A Lee’s Sandwiches location in Orange was temporarily shut down following multiple health code violations, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency. These include improper food storage and a pest infestation. Management must correct the violations before a follow-up inspection can clear the restaurant to reopen.
Please note that the report mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on July 28, 2025. It may not represent the future health inspection status of the establishment.
Highlights
- Lee’s Sandwich at E Chapman Ave was temporarily closed after a failed health inspection.
- Multiple violations were observed, including improper storage of temperature-controlled foods.
- A follow-up inspection will verify the correction before business operations can resume.
Lee’s Sandwiches
Where: 2602 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92869
Date: July 28, 2025
An inspection of Lee’s Sandwiches at E Chapman Ave found several health code violations. The report noted a lack of food safety knowledge among staff. It then goes on to comment on the unavailability of a valid Food Manager Certificate at the time of the inspection.
The inspectors observed soiled single-use gloves stored at the cold top unit. The hand sink was blocked by a pallet of baguettes. The bottle of soap placed at this sink kept falling when trying to turn the water on.
The oven door at the cookline stove was missing, raising safety concerns. Tongs were stored on the rim of the trash bin. There was no probe thermometer available at the time of the inspection. Additionally, the last inspection report was not available for review at the time of inspection.
Debris was accumulating underneath the cooking equipment, the adjacent storage racks, the dry storage racks by the water heater, and the drink prep area. The walk-in cooler fan guard had a heavy debris buildup.
Chlorine and quaternary ammonium sanitizer test strips were unavailable during the time of inspection. There were bags of produce on top of the oil collection bin. There was a deep container of cooked pork cooling on the counter without any rapid cooling methods in place.
Several major violations occurred at the time of inspection. Inspectors found several foods placed at the wrong temperatures. Cooked boba was at 88°F, cooked pork in a plastic bin was at 105°F, and a layer of sliced cheese in the overfilled cold top was at 47°F.
Foods using time as a public health control (TPHC) lacked proper labeling and were stored incorrectly. There was no written procedure available for review, nor any signage or sticker to identify the expiration time after removal from temperature control.
Inspectors found cockroach activity throughout the kitchen, including live insects in multiple areas. They were seen under cooking stations, prep counters, and cold top units. They were on the back wheel of the fryer units, and the base coving behind the storage racks next to the cooking equipment.
A detailed health report on the inspection of Lee’s Sandwiches at E Chapman Ave is available online.
Follow-Up Inspection
The management of Lee’s Sandwiches at E Chapman Ave needs to ensure the implementation of corrections. All cockroach activity must be eliminated, followed by a thorough cleaning of the facility. A follow-up inspection will verify these corrections before business can resume. The management has the right to oppose this decision and request a hearing within 15 days.
Through these routine inspections, the agency ensures health standards are upheld in public eateries. This reduces the risk of diseases and ensures the safety of public health.
