On Monday, March 31, a Mexican restaurant was immediately ordered to close, and the health permit was suspended. San Francisco Department of Health conducted a routine inspection of the restaurant. Observation of risk factors and violation of food safety regulations led to this decision.
Please note that the results mentioned here are from a particular inspection conducted on March 31 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the establishments.
Highlights
- Taqueria Cancun, a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco, was not operating as per the food safety standards.
- The restaurant failed a routine inspection on March 31 and had to cease operations until further notice.
- Grave violations, such as the observation of live cockroaches, were found at the food facility.
Taqueria Cancun Restaurant Ordered Closed
- Where: 1003 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
- When: March 31, 2025
Taqueria Cancun is a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco known for its affordability and late-hour service. The restaurant underwent a routine inspection on March 31, 2025. Due to violation of the California Health and Safety Code and/or City and County of San Francisco Health Code, it was ordered closed along with health permit suspension.
Inspection Findings at the Restaurant
The inspecting officer found numerous violations at the outlet. Some of them were corrected on-site, while others are expected to be handled by the restaurant authorities at their end. Salsas were stored in a metal bin with ice underneath, but not all were properly exposed to the ice for adequate cold-holding. The operator filled the metal bin with ice to keep the salsas at 41 F right there.
The inspecting officer noticed live cockroaches underneath the overhead storage. There was evidence of cockroaches throughout the food facility and dead nymphs on the back walls of the cookline. The facility was instructed to eliminate the vermin infestation.
Meat packages were being thawed at room temperature in standing water. It was corrected on-site by transferring the packages to the walk-in cooler for the approved thawing method. Raw eggs were observed on the top shelf of the walk-in cooler, stored above ready-to-eat foods. The restaurant has to ensure all food is separated and protected from cross-contamination.
Self-applied glue bait was seen underneath the metal shelves behind all the cook-line. It was asked to remove and discontinue the use of any unapproved pesticides. There was grease build-up on the sides of the cook-line equipment and a soiled towel at the raw meat cutting section. All nonfood contact surfaces have to be clean, and all clean and soiled linen shall be properly stored.
Water was dripping onto the basement floor of the dry goods storage. The operator stated that there is ongoing construction work that has impacted the ceiling of the basement. DPH has contacted Public Works regarding this issue and asked them to clean and seal all the holes. The health inspection report is available for public discretion.
Working in compliance with the safety code is a must for food establishments to ensure community health. The health inspection report for Cancun mentions that it can reopen after rectifications.
The outlet should be free of cockroaches and be made vermin-proof. Pest control should be conducted, and the report has to be shared with the authorities. All food and non-food contact surfaces should be completely cleaned before reopening. The department will do a reinspection, and the inspector will remove the closure placard.
