EL AJI
735 E 12TH ST # 407, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021 · RESTAURANT (0-30) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
EL AJI has been inspected 2 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since November 17, 2023. The most recent inspection, on June 23, 2025, recorded 6 infractions.
None of the 2 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Chemicals and toxic substances, Protecting food from contamination and Food temperature control.
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.
Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk
Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 23, 2025. For example:
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 23, 2025. For example:
FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
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 2 times on November 17, 2023. For example:
APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED, FROZEN FOOD MAINTAINED FROZEN
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 once on June 23, 2025. For example:
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
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 June 23, 2025. For example:
EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
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
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F014: # 14. FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 4 points
- F029: # 29. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
8 infractions
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F055: # 01A. DEMONSTRATION OF KNOWLEDGE
- 2 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F029: # 29. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
- 1 point
- F027: # 27. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- 1 point
- F026: # 26. APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED, FROZEN FOOD MAINTAINED FROZEN
- 1 point
- F009: # 09. PROPER COOLING METHODS
- 2 points
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
Nearby inspected facilities
- NIKS KITCHEN
735 E 12TH ST UNIT #408, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
1 inspection
- MAPA GRILL
735 E 12TH ST STE 409, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
1 inspection
- MALA MASTER
735 E 12TH ST # 404, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
1 inspection
- JAVA BRU CAFE
726 E 12TH ST STE 208, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
1 inspection
- HONG KONG BANJUM
735 E 12TH ST STE 405, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
1 inspection
- K CUPS
735 E 12TH ST # 410, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
1 inspection
- ALE'S RESTAURANT
735 E 12TH ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90017
2 inspections
- ADDY'S CAFE
1015 CROCKER ST STE S02, LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
2 inspections