EL CHATO CARNITAS AND CHICHARRONES RESTAURANT

Inspection summary

EL CHATO CARNITAS AND CHICHARRONES RESTAURANT has been inspected 3 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since December 8, 2023. The most recent inspection, on September 23, 2025, recorded 14 infractions.

None of the 3 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, Handwashing and staff hygiene 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.

• 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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 23, 2025. For example: NO RODENTS, INSECTS, BIRDS, OR ANIMALS

• 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 September 23, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE

• 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 September 23, 2025. For example: PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

• 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 September 23, 2025. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: ADEQUATE, MAINTAINED, PROPERLY USE, TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE

• Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

  Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

  Recorded 9 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 23, 2025. For example: TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, CLEANED

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.

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