New Burma SOMA Restaurant Fails Health Inspection Violations

New Burma, a restaurant located at 659 Townsend Street in San Francisco's SOMA district, failed its routine health inspection on October 9, 2025, accumulating eight health code violations that highlight concerning food safety practices. The inspection, conducted by Inspector Roy Bwogi from 12:50 PM to 2:40 PM, revealed multiple issues that could pose significant health risks to customers dining at this Burmese establishment.

Health Violations Found

The most serious concern identified during this inspection involved dirty food contact surfaces that were not properly cleaned and sanitized. This violation, which was corrected on-site, represents one of the most dangerous food safety failures in commercial kitchens. According to health experts, contaminated cutting boards and utensils cause 76% of cross-contamination incidents, with biofilms protecting harmful bacteria from standard cleaning procedures. A single contaminated surface can spread dangerous pathogens to dozens of food items throughout the kitchen. Inspectors also discovered improper thawing methods being used at the restaurant. This violation was similarly corrected during the inspection, but the improper practices could have created dangerous anaerobic conditions that allow Clostridium botulinum to flourish. Botulism poisoning, which can result from such conditions, proves fatal in 5-10% of cases and causes severe paralysis and respiratory failure in victims. Additional violations included nonfood contact surfaces that were not properly cleaned, creating environments that harbor pests and serve as bacterial reservoirs. The accumulated grease and food debris on these surfaces attract cockroaches and rodents, compounding the health risks for customers.

Equipment and Storage Issues

The inspection revealed problems with equipment approval and maintenance, including items that were not suitable for commercial use and could harbor bacteria in cracks and crevices. Improperly stored utensils were found collecting airborne bacteria and dust, while contaminated storage areas were spreading pathogens to supposedly clean items. Wiping cloths were another area of concern, with inspectors citing two separate violations for improper use and storage. These cloths, when not properly sanitized, can spread millions of bacteria across kitchen surfaces. When used on raw meat preparation areas, dirty wiping cloths become vehicles for spreading dangerous pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli throughout the entire kitchen operation.

Location and Transit Access

New Burma's location on Townsend Street places it in the heart of SOMA, near the Civic Center BART station, making it easily accessible to both local workers and tourists. The restaurant's failure during this routine inspection raises concerns for the many customers who frequent this area for dining options during lunch and dinner hours.

Previous Inspection History

This recent failure marks a troubling pattern for New Burma, as the restaurant also failed a reinspection on October 21, 2025, conducted just twelve days after the initial failed inspection. The repeated failures suggest systemic issues with the establishment's food safety protocols that have not been adequately addressed. The San Francisco Department of Public Health requires restaurants to correct violations promptly and may impose additional penalties for establishments that continue to fail inspections. Customers planning to visit New Burma should be aware of these recent inspection failures and may want to verify that all violations have been properly addressed before dining at this location.