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EL CHOLO

1025 WILSHIRE BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 · RESTAURANT (151 + ) SEATS HIGH RISK

Inspection summary

EL CHOLO has been inspected 2 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since February 15, 2024. The most recent inspection, on October 9, 2025, recorded 5 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.

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 once on October 9, 2025. For example: FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED

  • 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 once on February 15, 2024. For example: PROPER COOLING METHODS

  • 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 February 15, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED

  • 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 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 9, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE

  • 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 October 9, 2025. For example: EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS APPROVED: INSTALLED; GOOD REPAIR; CAPACITY

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

  1. ROUTINE INSPECTION

    5 infractions

    • 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
    • F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • 1 point
    • F115: FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
      • 4 points
  2. ROUTINE INSPECTION

    6 infractions

    • F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
      • 1 point
    • F009: # 09. PROPER COOLING METHODS
      • 2 points
    • F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
      • 1 point
    • F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 1 point
    • F041: # 41. GARBAGE AND REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • 1 point
    • F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
      • 1 point

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