EL CHINANTECO MEXICAN GRILL
800 S MAIN ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90014 · RESTAURANT (31-60) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
EL CHINANTECO MEXICAN GRILL has been inspected 2 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since September 3, 2024. The most recent inspection, on June 15, 2026, recorded 21 infractions.
None of the 2 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 21 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Food temperature control and Pests.
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.
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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 15, 2026. 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 2 times on June 15, 2026. For example:
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND ACCURATE
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 2 times on June 15, 2026. For example:
NO INSECTS, RODENTS, BIRDS OR ANIMALS PRESENT
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 June 15, 2026. For example:
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
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 on June 15, 2026. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES; SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
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
21 infractions
- F128: FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- 1 point
- F139: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND ACCURATE
- 1 point
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F124: NO INSECTS, RODENTS, BIRDS OR ANIMALS PRESENT
- 11 points
- F143: TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, CLEANED
- 1 point
- F152: PERMIT SUSPENDED, REVOKED, OR MODIFIED
- F102: FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F147: SIGNS POSTED; LAST INSPECTION REPORT AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F115: FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 4 points
- F151: IMPOUNDMENT/VOLUNTARY CONDEMN AND DISPOSE (VC&D)/SAMPLING
- F107: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES; SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- 1 point
- F148: PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F114: FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE AND UNADULTERATED
- 4 points
- F108: PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 4 points
- F136: EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS APPROVED: INSTALLED; GOOD REPAIR; CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F138: ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F141: PLUMBING: FIXTURES, BACKFLOW DEVICE, DRAINAGE
- 1 point
- F144: PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
- 1 point
- F106: HANDS CLEAN AND PROPERLY WASHED; PROPER GLOVE USE
- 4 points
- F122: HOT AND COLD WATER AVAILABLE
- 4 points
- F128: FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
9 infractions
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F048: # 47. PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F037: # 37. ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F042: # 42. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, CLEANED
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
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