BUENA VIDA TEA BAR & GARDEN
726 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403 · RESTAURANT (0-30) SEATS MODERATE RISK
Inspection summary
BUENA VIDA TEA BAR & GARDEN has been inspected 2 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since November 9, 2023. The most recent inspection, on March 31, 2026, recorded 6 infractions.
None of the 2 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Food source, labelling and allergens.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 31, 2026. For example:
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded once on March 31, 2026. For example:
FOOD STORAGE; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk
Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.
Recorded once on March 31, 2026. For example:
IMPOUNDMENT/VOLUNTARY CONDEMN AND DISPOSE (VC&D)/SAMPLING
Equipment and utensilsLower risk
Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 31, 2026. For example:
NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
Permits, records and postingLower risk
Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.
Recorded once on March 31, 2026. For example:
PLAN REVIEW
About this data
These results come from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
2 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- 1 point
- F131: FOOD STORAGE; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F137: EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F149: PLAN REVIEW
- 1 point
- F151: IMPOUNDMENT/VOLUNTARY CONDEMN AND DISPOSE (VC&D)/SAMPLING
- F115: FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 4 points
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
2 infractions
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
Nearby inspected facilities
- BIG LOVE
729 MONTANA AVE STE 2, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
2 inspections
- KAI RAMEN SANTA MONICA
729 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
3 inspections
- KAI RAMEN SANTA MONICA
729 MONTANA AVE STE #3, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
1 inspection
- PANDA EXPRESS #187
804 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
4 inspections
- H+ H BAGELS SANTA MONICA
710 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
1 inspection
- MARMALADE CAFE
710 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
1 inspection
- BREAKFAST BY SALT'S CURE
714 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
2 inspections
- HORCHATA MEXICAN FOOD AND BAKERY
804 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA 90403
3 inspections