Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@fresnobee.com.
Cockroaches were a major issue for Fresno County restaurants and food service businesses in June.
Seven businesses were closed, some for a week or more, after health inspectors found infestations, according to public data reported by the Fresno County’s Health Department.
Those closures included:
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Valentino’s, an Italian restaurant in downtown Fresno’s Galleria building, where an inspector found a live cockroach inside a paper towel dispenser while trying to wash his hands. According to a June 16 inspection report, “an entire colony of cockroaches at various stages of life emerged from the paper towel dispenser,” the report said.
Cabinet shelves were covered with the body parts of dead cockroach and their waste and live roaches were “observed throughout facility.” The restaurant was ordered closed and had to undergo a full cleaning of cabinets, counters, equipment, utensils and shelving, along with a professional pest control treatment. It reopened June 25.
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Chalio’s, a Mexican restaurant on Front Street in Selma, where a June 2 inspection found both live and dead cockroaches throughout the building, including several in the prep kitchen area. The restaurant was ordered to clean any contaminated areas and repair holes in a wall at behind a mop sink and another near a hand wash sink, where roaches were seen. It was allowed to reopen June 6, according to the health department records.
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The service bar at the Double Tree at the Fresno Convention Center, following its inspection on June 30. It remained closed into July, according to health department data.
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Pho Lau Vieng #2, a Lao and Vietnamese comfort food restaurant on Olive Avenue. It was also closed after failing a June 30 inspection due to “cockroach and rodent infestation.”
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Birreria Mi Ranchito, at Butler and Orange Avenues. The Mexican restaurant was inspected on June 30 and remained closed into July.
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Coco’s Produce, on Orange Avenue south of Butler. The facility was inspected July 17 and closed for at least two weeks.
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Cuquita Mexican Food truck, which was closed for a week following a June 3 inspection.
Other inspection violations for June 2025
In all, a total of 11 restaurant/food businesses were temporarily closed following inspections in June. The others were:
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School House Restaurant & Tavern in Sanger, which was closed for two days following an alert from California State Water Resources Control Board. According to a report from the board, the restaurant’s water supply system had been contaminated with E. Coli. The restaurant had to discard any food or drinks that could have been made with the contaminated water and “disinfect food contact surfaces and food-handling utensils.”
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The Fosters Freeze in Reedley, which was closed to two weeks after inspectors found several sinks were not properly draining.
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El Taco Loco/Kerman Market on South Madera Avenue in Kerman. The market facility was partially closed following a June 2 inspection due to “vermin activity,” according to health department data. El Taco Loco was closed due to lack of hot water.
Typically, a lack of hot water is one of the more common (and easily fixed) violations.
Last month, four restaurant were closed following routine inspections. That included a Fresno market that had what the health department described as a backroom chicken coop. On the year, 36 restaurants and food businesses have been temporarily closed (and allowed to reopen) by the health department.
What inspectors look for
The Fresno County Department of Public Health has about two dozen environmental health specialists who monitor almost 5,000 restaurants, snack bars, grocery stores, commissaries, delicatessens and food vendors across the county and make unannounced visits several times a year.
Restaurants also are inspected following fires, or in response to complaints or other concerns from the public, including when people report what they believe are health or sanitation issues at restaurants.
When inspectors visit a restaurant or other food service business, there is a lengthy and detailed list of more than 50 things that draw their scrutiny. They include:
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Whether the manager and all employees have the required food safety or food-handling certificates.
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Hygiene of individual employees.
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Ways to keep cold food at or below 41 degrees and hot food above 135 degrees.
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Use of proper sterilization for counters, tables, utensils and cookware.
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Proper drainage of sinks and floor drains.
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Restrooms stocked with supplies.
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Whether the business has the proper license or permit.
Inspectors chronicle their findings in reports, which are made available to the public.
In most instances, if an inspector finds a problem, it’s something that can be fixed on the spot. This can include having enough bleach or sanitizer in the water used to wipe down food-preparation areas, replenishing soap, paper towels and toilet paper in the restrooms, or reminding employees to wash their hands and wear gloves and hairnets.
As shown this month, insect or vermin infestations are violations that can result in immediate closure of restaurants or food businesses when they are observed by health inspectors.
Among other serious concerns are refrigerators that don’t keep food cold enough or steam tables that don’t keep food hot enough to inhibit bacterial growth, or clogged sinks or drains that cause contaminated water to back up into kitchens.
