Volcano Kitchen Gets Conditional Pass for Food Safety Issues

Volcano Kitchen, a Japanese restaurant located at 5454 Geary Boulevard in Outer Richmond, received a conditional pass during a reinspection conducted on August 13, 2025. The inspection revealed minor violations that required immediate attention but did not warrant closure of the establishment. The primary concern identified during this inspection was the absence of valid food handler cards for all employees working with food. Inspector Jessica Jang noted that no valid food handler certifications were present on-site during the 25-minute inspection that took place between 3:10 PM and 3:35 PM. This violation represents a significant administrative oversight that must be addressed to ensure full compliance with San Francisco health regulations.

Temperature Violations Corrected On-Site

A major violation was discovered involving improper cold holding temperature of breaded chicken katsu, which was measured at 48-51°F, well above the required 41°F maximum. The temperature-sensitive raw chicken was stored adjacent to hot holding equipment, which appeared to compromise the refrigeration unit's ability to maintain proper temperatures. The restaurant operator immediately recognized the issue and committed to removing some hot holding compartments near the refrigerator to ensure proper cold storage temperatures. This temperature violation was corrected on-site during the inspection, demonstrating the restaurant's willingness to address food safety concerns promptly. Temperature abuse is responsible for 63% of foodborne illness outbreaks, making proper cold storage essential for preventing bacterial growth, particularly with raw poultry products.

Reinspection Context and Requirements

Tuesday's visit was classified as a reinspection, suggesting that Volcano Kitchen had previously undergone inspection procedures. The conditional pass allows the restaurant to continue operations while addressing the outstanding food handler certification requirement. Inspector Jang has requested that valid food handler cards for all employees be submitted electronically to jessica.jang@sfdph.org. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for August 20, 2025, to verify that all violations have been properly addressed. The restaurant has one week to ensure that all food-handling staff obtain proper certification and that cold storage temperatures remain consistently below 41°F.

Restaurant Operations Continue

Despite the violations found, Volcano Kitchen remains open and continues serving customers in the Outer Richmond neighborhood. The restaurant is conveniently located near the 38 Geary bus line and is owned by Wakaba Inc. Customers can reach the establishment at (415) 826-2611. The conditional pass indicates that while improvements are necessary, the violations do not pose immediate severe health risks that would require closure. The restaurant's quick response to correct the temperature violation on-site reflects a commitment to food safety standards. Food handler certification ensures that restaurant employees understand proper food safety practices, including handwashing, cross-contamination prevention, and temperature control. The missing certifications represent an administrative gap rather than evidence of unsafe food handling practices. Volcano Kitchen's management has demonstrated cooperation with health inspectors and appears committed to achieving full compliance by the follow-up inspection date. The establishment continues to serve Japanese cuisine to Outer Richmond residents while working to perfect its food safety protocols.