NORTHERN CAFE
128 N GARFIELD AVE # B, MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754 · RESTAURANT (31-60) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
NORTHERN CAFE has been inspected 3 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since February 26, 2024. The most recent inspection, on January 5, 2026, recorded 5 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 23 infractions recorded. 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 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 16, 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 16, 2025. For example:
PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 5, 2026. For example:
FOOD STORAGE; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
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 once on December 16, 2025. For example:
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, AND USED
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 once on December 16, 2025. For example:
PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
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.
3 inspections
- OWNER INITIATED INSPECTION
5 infractions
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F131: FOOD STORAGE; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- 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
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
18 infractions
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- 1 point
- F114: FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE AND UNADULTERATED
- 4 points
- F101: DEMONSTRATION OF KNOWLEDGE
- 2 points
- F108: PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 4 points
- F127: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED, FROZEN FOOD
- 1 point
- F130: TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, AND USED
- 1 point
- 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
- F102: FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F153: MULTIPLE MAJOR CRITICAL VIOLATIONS / INCREASED RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH
- 3 points
- F115: FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 4 points
- F151: IMPOUNDMENT/VOLUNTARY CONDEMN AND DISPOSE (VC&D)/SAMPLING
- F142: GARBAGE AND REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
- 1 point
- F137: EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F140: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F014: # 14. FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 4 points
- F055: # 01A. DEMONSTRATION OF KNOWLEDGE
- 2 points
- F034: # 34. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: ADEQUATE, MAINTAINED, PROPERLY USE, TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F038: # 38. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND ACCURATE
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
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