Japanese Restaurant in L.A. Shut Down Over Vermin and Health Violations

Vermin infestation led to the temporary closure of the Tokyo Garden restaurant during a routine health inspection on July 30.

Twinkle Jha
Written By Twinkle Jha
News Writer
Annesha
Edited By Annesha
Managing Editor
Tokyo Garden was ordered to temporarily cease food operations (Source: yelp.com)

Tokyo Garden was temporarily closed by health officials following the discovery of vermin. The County of Los Angeles Public Health found several other violations at Tokyo Garden. Inspectors also cited the restaurant for improper food temperatures and unapproved food sources.

Please note that the report mentioned here is from a routine food safety inspection conducted on July 30. It may not reflect the future health inspection status of the L.A.-based establishment.

Highlights

  • Tokyo Garden was issued a temporary closure notice following the discovery of vermin.
  • The Japanese establishment serves food items like sushi, chicken teriyaki plates, and more.
  • Food inspectors from the County of Los Angeles Public Health found other violations, such as wrong food holding temperatures.

Tokyo Garden

Patrons across L.A. visit this food establishment for sushi items and grilled offerings. Delicious sushi item at Tokyo Garden (Source: yelp.com)

  • Where: 11946 South Paramount Blvd, Downey
  • When: July 30, 2025

Tokyo Garden’s menu features sushi, teriyaki plates, and other Japanese dishes. Tokyo Garden offers a quality Japanese dining experience through date nights, group celebrations, and family dinners. The menu spotlights salmon, blue crab, omakase sushi, volcano roll, and chicken teriyaki plate.

On July 30, health officials from the County of Los Angeles Public Health observed vermin and other violations at Tokyo Garden. Following the violations, the establishment’s health permit was suspended.

Inspection Findings

Tokyo Garden was cited for using food from unapproved sources and failing to meet shelf tag compliance standards set by the county.

The food inspectors then highlighted the major issue of vermin infestation at Tokyo Garden. The restaurant failed to comply with vermin-proofing requirements.

Inspectors impounded unsanitary food and equipment during the inspection. Tokyo Garden wasn’t following the requirements of warewashing facilities as mandated by the county for an L.A.-based restaurant.

The Japanese food facility’s floors, walls, and ceilings were not properly maintained, as required for food establishments in the city. Its plumbing was also in poor repair, with improper backflow devices.

Food items were not kept separately at Tokyo Garden, resulting in cross-contamination. The county’s health officials noted that its food-contact surfaces needed cleaning and sanitization. No proper labels were mentioned on food storage containers at the establishment.

The restaurant did not meet requirements for wiping cloth use and storage. Handwashing facilities, too, needed the staff’s attention. Tokyo Garden’s nonfood-contact surfaces, along with the utensils and equipment, needed cleaning. The hot and cold holding temperatures didn’t meet the parameters set by the county.

Screenshot of health inspection report of Tokyo Garden (Source: ehservices.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

The temporary closure of Tokyo Garden reiterates the importance of adhering to food code regulations as set by the County of Los Angeles Public Health.

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Twinkle Jha is a content writer passionate about crafting engaging and informative pieces for diverse audiences. She holds a degree in Journalism & Mass Communication that helps her create news-based articles related to restaurants, retail, and real estate in the US. With five years of writing experience, Twinkle has a strong base for her research, allowing her to create compelling content. Her keen eye for detail and creative approach make her writing stand out. When not working, she loves to watch movies.
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