Greater Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Taco Jalisco, Moe's

Ever wonder how clear your local restaurants are? Fairfax County restaurants regularly undergo health inspections, with the frequency depending on the type of food served and how it is prepared. While violations like malfunctioning refrigerators and food that's not warm or cold enough often pop up, health inspectors sometimes find more critical violations.

"In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," notes the Virginia Department of Health.

Here are full results for the latest inspections around Greater Alexandria, including restaurants that passed with no violations. Click on the violations to see each restaurant's results. Full reports are usually available five to seven days after the inspection on the health department's website.

Violations

Capital Chicken: 7698 Richmond Hwy, #B, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22302, last inspection: May 9

violations: Observed gloved employee handle food at service line, remove gloves to use register, then put new gloves on to service food, raw animal food holding in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: observed raw shell eggs stored above ready-to-eat sauce in the walk-in cooler, no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection, paper towels were missing from the warewashing handwashing sink and prep handwashing sink (next to walk-in), mops are improperly stored between use (all corrected), observed several squeeze bottles that were not labeled (soy sauce, bbq/steak sauce, oil, vinegar), metal pans above the warewashing area were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization, hot water handle at the warewashing handwashing sink is not maintained in good repair

China One: 7700 F Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22036, last inspection: May 15

violations: Observed raw chicken and raw beef containers stored above containers of soy sauce, unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: Observed uncovered egg rolls and multiple sauce containers in the 3-door prep refrigerator (corrected)

El Paso Mexican Restaurant: 6151 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22302, last inspection: May 20

violations: The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: In walk in refrigerator (unit #2) beef in sauce 52f, refried beans 54f, ground cooked hamburger 52f ; In the Superior 1 door cooler at the server station, unit #6)observed milk 51f (corrected)

Izalco Bar & Restaurant: 8403-E Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: May 16

violations: Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: raw chicken and raw beef stored above raw shrimp in the 3-door prep refrigerator (corrected), unable to locate the 2019 Permit to Operate

Moe's Southwest Grill: 7698 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: May 9

violations: Multiple metal pans were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization

Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22121, last inspection: May 14

violations: Unlabeled food containers with the following food items that are not easily identified by appearance: multiple unlabeled squeeze bottles used for olive oil and canola oil, wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on multiple prep tables and counters of several refrigeration units, cutting board for the Continental 1-door prep cooler (near fryer) is heavily scratched and scored, hand soap was not provided at each handwashing sink (corrected)

Pupuseria Dona Azucena: 8764 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: May 22

violations: The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without a reminder statement: Carne de Res Asada - steak platter on menu indicated by askerisk (*) but menu does not include consumer advisory statement (corrected)

Taco Bell: 7230 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: May 17

violations: Metal and plastic containers on the storage racks were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization, no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection (corrected)

Taco Jalisco: 8645 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: May 8

violations: Observed gloved employee leave the kitchen to grab item from purse, return into kitchen to handle tortillas without washing hands and putting on new gloves, no cover on menudo soup in walk-in; missing cover for cut tomatoes, shrimp ceviche, tamales, cheese in 3-door refrigerator, food item was not reheated for hot holding in the microwave oven to a sufficient temperature and/or time: Temperature of cooked rice upon microwaving was 64°F, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: several tongs and spatulas by the grill and spice cart were visibly soiled, surfaces of ice bins below microwave oven are not being cleaned as required - observed build-up in dispenser in ice bin

Viet House Restaurant: 6226 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: May 16

violations: The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: brisket 45f, brisket 48f on a sheet pan, per foodworker was held from last night, person in charge (PIC) has a valid certificate of successful completion of a Certified Food Manager (CFM) exam but does not possess the CFM card, handsink at the back was observed with food debris in the basin and the sink basin was slow to drain (all corrected)

No Violations

El Buen Sazon Restaurant: 8428 Richmond Hwy, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22309, last inspection: May 14

violations: none

Great American Steak & Buffet Co: 5902 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: May 16

violations: none