Little Nepal Indian Cuisine Closed for Rodent Droppings Food

The San Francisco Health Department has ordered the immediate closure of Little Nepal Indian Cuisine in the Mission district after discovering rodent droppings throughout the kitchen, food illegally stored in an apartment above the restaurant, and cooked chicken held at dangerously high temperatures that could cause severe foodborne illness. During this inspection on August 13, 2025, Health Inspector Tiombe Wiley found a shocking array of violations at the Indian restaurant located at 925 Cortland Ave, near the 24th St Mission BART station.

Critical Health Violations Found

The most alarming discovery was cooked chicken that had been prepared the previous evening and stored overnight at 58°F in the cold prep unit - a temperature that creates ideal conditions for dangerous bacterial growth including Salmonella and Campylobacter. Food safety regulations require cooked chicken to be held below 41°F to prevent rapid bacterial multiplication that can cause severe food poisoning within hours of consumption. Inspectors also discovered rodent droppings scattered throughout the kitchen area between the warewash station and a work table, along with what appeared to be a rodent entry point. This contamination poses serious health risks as rodent waste can carry numerous pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, and Hantavirus. In a particularly disturbing finding, all food and restaurant supplies were being illegally stored in an apartment residence above the facility rather than in the permitted restaurant space. Health regulations strictly prohibit this practice as residential areas lack proper food safety controls and can introduce countless contaminants into the food supply chain.

Equipment and Sanitation Failures

Additional violations revealed a complete breakdown in basic food safety protocols. Inspectors found a food storage lid with visible bite marks and gnaw marks, which was voluntarily discarded during the inspection. The discovery suggests ongoing rodent activity with direct contact to food storage containers. The restaurant was also operating without any sanitizer setup in the required three-compartment sink system, and no sanitizer buckets were present anywhere in the kitchen. This fundamental sanitation failure means dishes, utensils, and food contact surfaces were not being properly disinfected, creating conditions for widespread bacterial contamination. Kitchen flooring underneath the cook line showed heavy accumulation of grease and food debris, which attracts vermin and provides breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and insects.

First-Time Inspection Reveals Systemic Problems

This appears to be the restaurant's first recorded health inspection, making the extensive violations particularly concerning. The facility received six total violations, with three classified as critical threats to public health. The restaurant, operated by N M N Inc and reachable at (831) 261-6444, remains closed with no reopening date scheduled. The establishment must correct all violations and pass a reinspection before being allowed to resume operations. Customers who recently dined at Little Nepal Indian Cuisine should monitor for symptoms of foodborne illness including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, and seek medical attention if symptoms develop. The combination of temperature violations, rodent contamination, and unsanitary conditions created multiple pathways for serious foodborne illness. The closure affects dining options for residents near the busy Cortland Avenue corridor in the Mission district, an area known for its diverse restaurant scene. *Staff Reporter at SF Restaurant Inspections*