BUFFALO NICKEL RESTAURANT
57 PEBBLY BEACH RD, AVALON, CA 90704 · RESTAURANT (61-150) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
BUFFALO NICKEL RESTAURANT has been inspected 5 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since April 6, 2024. The most recent inspection, on October 11, 2025, recorded 7 infractions.
None of the 5 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Protecting food from contamination and Food temperature control.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
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.
PestsHigher risk
Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.
Recorded 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on October 11, 2025. For example:
NO INSECTS, RODENTS, BIRDS OR ANIMALS PRESENT
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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 11, 2025. For example:
FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on March 15, 2025. For example:
PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 11, 2025. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES; SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
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 October 21, 2024. For example:
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
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.
5 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
7 infractions
- F136: EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS APPROVED: INSTALLED; GOOD REPAIR; CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F107: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES; SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- 1 point
- F128: FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- 1 point
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F137: EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F124: NO INSECTS, RODENTS, BIRDS OR ANIMALS PRESENT
- 2 points
- F136: EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS APPROVED: INSTALLED; GOOD REPAIR; CAPACITY
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
5 infractions
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- 2 points
- F053: # 21A. HOT WATER AVAILABLE
- 4 points
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
11 infractions
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- 2 points
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F027: # 27. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F014: # 14. FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 2 points
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 4 points
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- 2 points
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F048: # 47. PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
9 infractions
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 4 points
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F013: # 13. FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE AND UNADULTERATED
- 4 points
- F023: # 23. NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS
- 2 points
- F043: # 43. PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
- 1 point
- F027: # 27. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- 1 point
- F014: # 14. FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 2 points
- F054: # 52. MULTIPLE MAJOR CRITICAL VIOLATIONS / INCREASED RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH
- 3 points
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
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