SAM'S TACOS
715 S SOTO ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90023 · RESTAURANT (0-30) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
SAM'S TACOS has been inspected 3 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since April 17, 2024. The most recent inspection, on October 16, 2025, recorded 13 infractions.
None of the 3 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 Handwashing and staff hygiene.
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 6 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 16, 2025. For example:
PROPER COOLING METHODS
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 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 16, 2025. For example:
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED; USED; TEST EQUIPMENT
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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 16, 2025. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES; SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk
Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 12, 2025. For example:
IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
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 16, 2025. For example:
FOOD STORAGE; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
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
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
13 infractions
- F136: EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS APPROVED: INSTALLED; GOOD REPAIR; CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F138: ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F122: HOT AND COLD WATER AVAILABLE
- 2 points
- F107: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES; SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F102: FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F147: SIGNS POSTED; LAST INSPECTION REPORT AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F143: TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, CLEANED
- 1 point
- F110: PROPER COOLING METHODS
- 4 points
- F131: FOOD STORAGE; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F135: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED; USED; TEST EQUIPMENT
- 1 point
- F137: EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F139: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND ACCURATE
- 1 point
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F136: EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS APPROVED: INSTALLED; GOOD REPAIR; CAPACITY
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
14 infractions
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F007: # 07. PROPER HOT AND COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
- 2 points
- F049: # 50. IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
- F025: # 25. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS AND HAIR RESTRAINTS
- 1 point
- 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
- F014: # 14. FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: CLEAN AND SANITIZED
- 4 points
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F037: # 37. ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F042: # 42. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, CLEANED
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F053: # 21A. HOT WATER AVAILABLE
- 2 points
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
12 infractions
- F046: # 46. SIGNS POSTED; LAST INSPECTION REPORT AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F034: # 34. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: ADEQUATE, MAINTAINED, PROPERLY USE, TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F038: # 38. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND ACCURATE
- 1 point
- F049: # 50. IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F032: # 32. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED & HONESTLY PRESENTED
- 1 point
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F042: # 42. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, CLEANED
- 1 point
- F006: # 06. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING FACILITIES SUPPLIED & ACCESSIBLE
- 2 points
- F009: # 09. PROPER COOLING METHODS
- 4 points
- F046: # 46. SIGNS POSTED; LAST INSPECTION REPORT AVAILABLE
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