[Editor’s note: The report mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on February 20 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.]
The Sacramento health department found O-Toro Sushi & Shabu to be in violation of several food safety codes. During an inspection on February 20, the restaurant was recommended to shut down.
O-Toro Sushi & Shabu
- When: February 20, 2026
- Where: 2131 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816
O-Toro Sushi & Shabu serves sushi and ramen bowls. According to the report, the facility was reported for several violations. They include:
- Tempura batter was observed on a prep table next to the fryers at 60°F. As a corrective action, ice was added at the time of inspection, and the issue was corrected.
- Major evidence of rodent infestation was observed throughout the facility. One dead mouse was found in a trap underneath shelving in the rice dry storage room. Three rodent droppings were observed on shelves in the sushi bar storage room, and 25 droppings were next to the end of the sushi bar.
- About 130 droppings with urine marks were observed on the floor underneath the sushi bar.
- Droppings were observed on food and food packaging, including one rodent dropping on a bag of sugar, two droppings on canned oyster-flavored sauce, one dropping on a bag of to-go containers in the basement storage room, one dropping inside plastic bags in the office, and 50 droppings throughout the office floor.
- The report said there were 30 droppings on top of the dish machine, 20 droppings on the floor underneath the dish machine, and 25 droppings on the floor underneath the metro racks in the room with the ice machine.
- The floor underneath cooking equipment at the cook’s line had 50 droppings, the top of soy sauce boxes in the rice dry storage room had 10 droppings, the water heater had five droppings, the floor underneath a metro rack in the hallway had 20 droppings, the lid of a soy sauce container in the hallway had one dropping, and the floor underneath sink equipment in the bar area had 15 droppings.
- A gnawed bag of rice was observed and impounded for discard in the rice dry storage room. Wood shavings were found beneath the basement door, with visible gnawing on the bottom section of the door.
- Gnawed wall material was observed in an opening in the office ceiling, and gnawed Styrofoam was found underneath a desk in the office.
- The report noted holes and openings were in multiple areas, including around plumbing above the water heater, a one-fourth-inch gap around the back screen door, and around basement plumbing behind clear plastic shelving. They were present around pipes in the basement ceiling, multiple holes in ceilings at the bar and dining area adjacent to the bar, openings in the office ceiling, narrow ceiling openings in the sushi storage area, and openings around exposed AC ducting in the rice dry storage room.
A detailed report is available online.
Follow-up Inspection
According to the report, O-Toro Sushi & Shabu was issued a red placard and is expected to eliminate the rodent infestation through approved methods. The restaurant must get rid of gaps and clutter. Once the violations are corrected, the eatery can request a reinspection from the health department.
