EL PAJONAL RESTAURANT

Inspection summary

EL PAJONAL RESTAURANT has been inspected 6 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since December 27, 2023. The most recent inspection, on September 29, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Chemicals and toxic substances.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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.

• 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 24, 2024. 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 29, 2025. For example: FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED

• 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 September 29, 2025. For example: TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED

• 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 once on April 9, 2024. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE

• 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 7, 2025. For example: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN

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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