THE APPETIZER EXPRESS
24422 HAWTHORNE BLVD # B, TORRANCE, CA 90505 · RESTAURANT (0-30) SEATS HIGH RISK
Inspection summary
THE APPETIZER EXPRESS has been inspected 4 times by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division since December 6, 2023. The most recent inspection, on September 22, 2025, recorded 8 infractions.
None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Pests and Protecting food from contamination.
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.
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 22, 2025. For example:
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
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 September 22, 2025. For example:
PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
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 September 22, 2025. For example:
FOOD PROPERLY STORED; 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 April 24, 2024. For example:
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
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 once on December 6, 2023. For example:
PROPER COOLING METHODS
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.
4 inspections
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
8 infractions
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F043: # 43. PREMISES; PERSONAL/CLEANING ITEMS; VERMIN-PROOFING
- 1 point
- F030: # 30. FOOD PROPERLY STORED; FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED
- 1 point
- F039: # 39. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED AND STORED
- 1 point
- F037: # 37. ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS, USE
- 1 point
- F036: # 36. EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS AND LINENS: STORAGE AND USE
- 1 point
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F048: # 47. PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
3 infractions
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- 2 points
- F048: # 47. PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F052: # 01B. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
6 infractions
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 1 point
- F029: # 29. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, USED
- 1 point
- F033: # 33. NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN AND IN GOOD REPAIR
- 1 point
- F044: # 44. FLOORS, WALLS AND CEILINGS: PROPERLY BUILT, MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR AND CLEAN
- 1 point
- F048: # 47. PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F034: # 34. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: ADEQUATE, MAINTAINED, PROPERLY USE, TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F040: # 40. PLUMBING: PLUMBING IN GOOD REPAIR, PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- ROUTINE INSPECTION
4 infractions
- F009: # 09. PROPER COOLING METHODS
- 4 points
- F035: # 35. EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS - APPROVED; INSTALLED; CLEAN; GOOD REPAIR, CAPACITY
- 1 point
- F048: # 47. PERMITS AVAILABLE
- 1 point
- F049: # 50. IMPOUNDMENT OF UNSANITARY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD
- F009: # 09. PROPER COOLING METHODS
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