I Tea SF Gets Conditional Pass for Minor Sanitation Issues

I Tea SF on Irving Street in the Inner Sunset received a conditional pass during this inspection on December 3, 2025, after health inspectors identified several minor violations that required immediate attention but did not pose significant public health risks. The popular tea shop at 2150 Irving Street remains open for business while addressing the correctable issues found during the routine inspection. The inspection, conducted between 1:10 PM and 1:40 PM, revealed four violations that inspectors classified as manageable concerns rather than serious health threats. Most notably, the facility lacked a readily available sanitizer solution when inspectors arrived, though staff quickly prepared a properly concentrated chlorine solution after receiving guidance from health officials. This type of violation, while important for maintaining food safety standards, represents a procedural oversight rather than an active contamination risk.

Temperature and Storage Violations

Inspectors discovered that the facility's hot water system reached only 115°F, falling short of the required minimum temperature of 120°F necessary for proper dishwashing and hand sanitation. This temperature deficiency affects the restaurant's ability to maintain optimal cleaning protocols, though it does not immediately endanger food safety when other sanitation measures remain in place. Food storage practices also drew inspector attention when toppings were found stored in cabinets beneath the hand wash sink. Staff promptly relocated these items during the inspection, demonstrating the restaurant's commitment to addressing violations as they were identified. The placement of food items near hand washing areas violates health codes designed to prevent cross-contamination between cleaning activities and food preparation.

Equipment and Compliance Issues

The inspection revealed missing equipment essential for proper warewashing procedures, specifically the lack of adequate stoppers at the three-compartment sink required for the standard three-step washing method. This equipment shortage prevents staff from following proper dishwashing protocols that ensure complete sanitization of food contact surfaces. Despite these findings, inspectors noted that three of the four violations were corrected on-site, indicating the restaurant's responsiveness to health department guidance. The immediate corrections suggest that management takes food safety seriously and is willing to make necessary adjustments when violations are identified.

Neighborhood Context and Operations

Located near the N-Judah Muni line, I Tea SF serves the bustling Inner Sunset community with tea shop offerings that have made it a neighborhood fixture. The conditional pass allows the establishment to continue serving customers while implementing the remaining corrections identified during the inspection. The restaurant's ability to address most violations immediately demonstrates operational flexibility and staff training in food safety protocols. This responsiveness often indicates effective management oversight and employee knowledge of health department requirements.

Follow-up Requirements

Health inspectors will conduct a follow-up visit to ensure complete compliance with all identified issues, particularly the hot water temperature requirement and warewashing equipment installation. The conditional pass status requires the restaurant to demonstrate full correction of all violations before receiving an unconditional approval. The inspection represents the facility's first recorded health department visit, making this conditional pass a baseline for future compliance efforts. Restaurant owner Hui Wendy can be reached at (510) 918-1883 for questions about the facility's ongoing compliance efforts and correction timeline.