El Farolito #9 Fails with Spoiled Food, Broken Restroom

El Farolito #9, a popular Mexican taqueria in North Beach, failed its health inspection on August 26, 2025, with critical food safety violations that forced inspectors to discard spoiled meat and condemn unsafe food storage practices. The restaurant at 1230 Grant Avenue, near the Powell-Mason Cable Car line, accumulated five violations during the routine inspection, including one critical violation for improper food temperatures.

Critical Temperature Violations

Health inspectors discovered a widespread breakdown in food safety protocols at the North Beach establishment during this inspection. The most serious violation involved al pastor meat found at dangerous temperatures between 48-62°F, well below the required holding temperature. Inspectors immediately ordered the spoiled meat discarded to prevent potential foodborne illness. The temperature violations extended throughout the restaurant's food preparation areas. Fresh tomatoes were found at 56°F, sour cream at 50°F, and eggs stored at a dangerous 84°F. Perhaps most alarming, ceviche - a raw fish dish particularly susceptible to bacterial growth - was discovered at just 52°F. The improper storage created ideal conditions for harmful bacteria like Listeria and Clostridium perfringens to multiply rapidly. Inspectors also found garlic preserved in oil that had to be discarded due to safety concerns. The botulism risk associated with improperly stored garlic-in-oil preparations can be fatal, making this violation particularly serious for customer safety.

Facility Safety Hazards

Beyond food safety issues, inspectors discovered the restaurant's restroom was completely unusable, locked with an "out of order" sign due to large holes in both the floor and wall. While the toilet and sink remained functional, inspectors deemed the facility a safety hazard for customers. The damaged restroom represents a major violation of sanitation requirements and poses potential injury risks.

Staff Certification and Hygiene Violations

The inspection revealed systemic problems with staff training and hygiene protocols. No food safety manager certifications or food handler cards could be located on-site, with staff claiming they were kept elsewhere. California law requires these certifications to be readily available during inspections, as certified managers reduce critical violations by 60% through proper understanding of temperature control and contamination prevention. Health inspectors also observed kitchen staff preparing food without required hair restraints, creating additional contamination risks for customers. The absence of a probe thermometer meant staff had no way to verify safe food temperatures, explaining the widespread temperature violations discovered throughout the facility.

Health Implications for Diners

The violations discovered at El Farolito #9 created multiple pathways for foodborne illness. Temperature abuse accounts for 63% of all foodborne outbreaks, and the restaurant's failures in this area put every customer at risk. The combination of improperly stored eggs, dairy products, and raw seafood could have led to severe cases of salmonella, listeria, or other dangerous bacterial infections. The damaged restroom facility also violated basic sanitation standards, creating unsanitary conditions that could contribute to the spread of illness among staff and customers.

Restaurant Response and Next Steps

Despite the serious violations, El Farolito #9 was not ordered to close, suggesting management corrected some issues during the inspection. The restaurant must address all violations, repair the damaged restroom, obtain proper thermometers, and ensure all staff have current food safety certifications before the next inspection. This represents the first recorded inspection for the Grant Avenue location, making it impossible to assess whether these violations represent ongoing problems or isolated incidents. The restaurant's response to addressing these serious food safety failures will determine its ability to safely serve the North Beach community.