TAQUERIA SAN MARCOS GRILL
16435 VANOWEN ST #A, VAN NUYS, CA 91406 · RESTAURANT (0-30) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
TAQUERIA SAN MARCOS GRILL has been inspected 3 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since December 3, 2023. The most recent inspection, on August 10, 2026, recorded 5 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 5 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, 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.
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 10, 2026. For example:
PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
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 July 25, 2024. 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 July 25, 2024. For example:
FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
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 December 3, 2023. 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 10, 2026. For example:
FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED 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.
3 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
5 infractions
- F137: EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F145: FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F138: ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F144: PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
- 1 point
- F134: NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- 1 point
- F137: EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
3 infractions
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F046: # 46. SIGNS POSTED; LAST INSPECTION REPORT AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
3 infractions
- F043: # 43. PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
- 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
- 1 point
- F043: # 43. PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
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