During a routine inspection by the Orange County Health Care Agency, a Guatemalan restaurant was closed temporarily. Health inspectors documented several health code violations during the inspection, resulting in the closure. The business may resume operations once violations are corrected.
Please note that the report mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on September 8, 2025, and may not represent the future health inspection status of the establishment.
Highlights
- La Solomerita Restaurant in Orange County was ordered to close due to multiple violations.
- A routine inspection recorded the said violations, which include a pest infestation.
- A follow-up inspection will verify the correction and allow the business to reopen.
La Solomerita Restaurant
- Where:Â 1610 S Standard Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92707
- Date:Â September 8, 2025
La Solomerita Restaurant, located in Santa Ana, specializes in Guatemalan cuisine. However, a routine inspection revealed several health code violations in the restaurant. According to the report, inspectors documented multiple unsafe practices.
The report begins with the observation of an employee grabbing sliced tomatoes right after touching their hair. When the employee was directed to wash their hand, they dipped their hands in soiled soap solution. They continued washing their hands in a sink filled with dirty dishes.
The inspector noticed that there was no soap or paper towels at the washing sink. The sink was used to wash hands, but provided no handwashing facilities.
The restaurant did not store temperature-controlled foods according to standard practices. Measured bags of packaged cheese and prepared rice were in the display cooler at 57°F to 59°F. The measured cheese was in the small prep cooler at 54°F. The standard temperature set for potentially hazardous foods is below 41°F or above 135°F.
There were two rodent droppings in the non-working cooler that was adjacent to the bag of Maseca on the floor. In the non-working superior reach-in cooler, a dead small cockroach was lying among the open dry foods.
Employees at the food facility did not use the approved thawing methods. Instead, they chose to thaw frozen meat in a container of stagnant warm water. Several pieces of equipment and utensils at the facility need repair.
The walk-in cooler, display cooler, superior reach-in cooler, and the large prep cooler were not in working order. The refrigeration unit also needs to be repaired. The wooden table had screw heads on the surface and was not approved for food contact.
A rolled-up carpet was seen stored in the walk-in cooler. Residue was found accumulating in several areas, including the floor under the shelving and under the ware washing sink. It was also found on the floor behind the chest freezer and in the walk-in cooler. The kitchen floor tile was also broken.
Inspectors said the facility was not adequately protected against pests, as the front door was propped open with only a magnetic screen in place. Cold medicine and Tylenol were stored on the shelving among food items.
A detailed health report of this restaurant’s latest inspection is available online.
Follow-Up Inspection
The facility must be rid of all pest activity and be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The repairs must be done as noted in the report, along with other corrections. The restaurant will then be reinspected, followed by approval to resume operations. The management has the right to oppose this decision and request a hearing within 15 days.
Routine inspections in Orange County help protect public health and ensure food facilities follow safety standards.
