Mission Japanese Taishoken Gets Conditional Health Pass

Taishoken, the popular Japanese restaurant at 665 Valencia Street in the Mission district, received a conditional pass during a health department reinspection on September 26, 2025. The establishment continues operating while addressing minor violations identified by health inspectors during the afternoon visit. The reinspection, conducted between 2:00 PM and 3:40 PM, found three violations that required immediate attention but did not warrant closure. Health officials discovered improper cooling procedures for pork broth and pork belly, with both items measuring 60°F after two hours in the reach-in cooler. According to this inspection, the restaurant immediately corrected the issue by placing the broth in an ice bath and transferring the pork belly to shallow metal trays.

Food Safety Corrections

The most significant finding involved the restaurant's Japanese ramen preparation, where a large pot of cooked pork broth and deep container of pork belly failed to meet proper cooling requirements. California retail food code mandates that hot foods cool from 135°F to 70°F within two hours, then from 70°F to 41°F within the following four hours. Restaurant staff worked with the inspector to implement proper cooling methods on site. Inspector observations also revealed a black mold-like substance on the interior surface of the ice machine chute. While the ice deflector panel had been cleaned, the interior chute requires thorough cleaning and sanitizing. This violation carries a correction deadline, allowing the restaurant to address the issue while maintaining normal operations. A third minor violation involved floor debris behind the bar area, which staff cleaned immediately during the inspection visit. Two of the three violations were corrected on site, demonstrating the restaurant's commitment to maintaining health standards.

Restaurant Operations Continue

Despite the conditional status, Taishoken remains open for business, serving its signature ramen bowls and Japanese specialties to customers near the 24th St Mission BART station. The conditional pass indicates minor violations that require attention but do not pose immediate public health risks requiring closure.

Recent Inspection History

This reinspection follows a previous routine inspection on September 15, 2025, where the restaurant also received a conditional pass. The previous inspection identified similar issues with proper hot and cold holding temperatures, cooling methods, and specialized processes. The pattern suggests ongoing challenges with temperature control procedures that the restaurant continues addressing. Owned by Goemon LLC and operating at (415) 290-5042, Taishoken specializes in authentic Japanese ramen in the heart of the Mission district. The restaurant's location on Valencia Street places it within walking distance of numerous other dining establishments and cultural attractions that draw both locals and tourists. The health department will likely conduct a follow-up inspection to verify corrections have been implemented, particularly for the ice machine cleaning requirement. Restaurants receiving conditional passes typically have specific timeframes to address violations before facing potential enforcement actions. Customers can continue dining at Taishoken while the restaurant works to resolve the minor operational issues identified during the inspection process.