NORTHERN CAFE
11468 SOUTH ST, CERRITOS, CA 90703 · RESTAURANT (31-60) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
NORTHERN CAFE has been inspected 2 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since October 12, 2023. The most recent inspection, on January 21, 2025, recorded 4 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: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing 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.
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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 21, 2025. For example:
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS AND HAIR RESTRAINTS
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 January 21, 2025. For example:
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
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 October 12, 2023. For example:
FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 21, 2025. For example:
EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
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 once on October 12, 2023. 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.
2 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
4 infractions
- F025: # 25. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS AND HAIR RESTRAINTS
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F004: # 04. PROPER EATING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
- 2 points
- F025: # 25. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS AND HAIR RESTRAINTS
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
4 infractions
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
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