Greater Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Unknown Expirations

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 the Route 1 corridor, 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

China Cafe: 8740 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: March 8

violations: Food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device:OBSERVED COOKED CHICKEN BY FRYER AT TEMPERATURE OF 56F (corrected)

Del Ray Pizzeria: 1401 Belle Haven Road, Alexandria, VA 22307, last inspection: March 11

violations: Raw animal food preparation conducted in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: shell eggs stored directly above milk in the walk-in cooler, food thawing using an improper method: Holding frozen lobster in cold water (below 70F), however no running/constant water was running, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: multiple knives on the wall mount in the back prep area, concentration of the chlorine solution in the sanitizing bucket was measured above 100 ppm (all corrected), door gaskets of the following units are (missing, damaged): left pizza prep unit and right flip prep unit near cookline

El Pollo Ranchero: 6324 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 1

violations: Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: a bowl without a handle observed with lip surfaces touching foods such as rice and beans, hand soap was not provided at the bar handwashing sink (both corrected), floors, walls are chipped and cracked upstairs

Golden Buffet & Grill: 7820 Richmond Hy, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22306, last inspection: March 6

violations: Food that is commercially processed is not used or discarded within 24 hours of when the original container was opened and is not observed to be date marked:OBSERVED SOUR CREAM IN REACH IN COOLER WITH A DATE OF 15 FEB 2019, food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: OBSERVED BOILED EGGS, AND COOKED SHRIMP IN 2DR COOLER WITHOUT DATE MARKING (both corrected)

La Mexicana Bakery: 2907 Arlington Drive, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: Feb. 28

violations: Food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: OBSERVED COOKED BEEF AND CHICKEN IN WALK-IN COOLER WITHOUT DATE MARKING (corrected)

La Taza Bakery: 7850 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 4

violations: Food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: OBSERVED BEANS AND RICE IN WALK-IN COOLER WITHOUT DATE MARKING (corrected)

Las Veguitas Restaurant: 6333 South Kings Hwy #C, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: Feb. 28

violations: Food prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked:Bulk prepared pupusa cheese, per manager to be used over a three day period, handsink at the cookline being used to rinse out wiping cloths (both corrected)

McDonald's: 6239 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 4

violations: Food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: A burrito which, per manager was prepared in the morning, measured 70f, raw hamburger patties near the front of the two drawer undercounter cooler measured 47f, 48f (corrected), refrigeration unit is not operating properly and is unable to maintain cold food at or below 41°F: The two drawer undercounter cooler used to store raw hamburger patties has an ambient air of 45f-59f

Orale Mexican Taqueria: 8762 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: Feb. 25

violations: food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF CHICKEN SOUP IN 2DR DISPLAY WITHOUT DATE (corrected)

Paisano's: 7711 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 6

violations: 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

Quickfire Hibachi: 7732-A Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 26

violations: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE ARRIVE FROM OUTSIDE AND CONDUCT FOOD PREP, OBSERVED RAW SHELL EGGS OVER VEGETABLES IN WALK-IN, wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter, food thawing using an improper method: RAW SHRIMP IN CONTAINER OF WATER, no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection, hand soap was not provided at hand sink by 3 VAT, paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink.BY 3VAT SINK (all corrected), dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows:OBSERVED SPOON FOR RAW SHRIMP, CHICKEN, AND BEEF STORED WITH HANDLE DIRECTLY TOUCHING ITEM

Taco Lucas Restaurant & Bakery: 8142 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: Feb. 25

violations: The following refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked:OBSERVED COOK CHICKEN AND BEEF IN WALK-IN WITHOUT DATE MARKING (corrected)

Top's China: 8727-B Cooper Road, Alexandria, VA 22309, last inspection: March 4

violations: Food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: OBSERVED COOKED PASTA ABD CHICKEN IN WALK-IN COOLER WITHOUT DATE MARKING

No Violations

Denny's: 7214 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 6

violations: none

Firehouse Subs: 8628A Richmond Hwy., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22309, last inspection: Feb. 26

violations: none

KFC: 7521 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: Feb. 25

violations: none

Noodles & Company: 7702 Richmond Hwy, Suite A, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 8

violations: none

Sarku Japan Teriyaki & Sushi Express: 6309 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: March 19

violations: none