El Burrito Express #1 Gets Conditional Pass Despite Minor Issues

El Burrito Express #1 in Pacific Heights received a conditional pass during its health inspection reinspection on October 28, 2025, allowing the popular Mexican restaurant to remain open while addressing several minor violations that require correction. The Divisadero Street establishment, located at 1812 Divisadero Street near Fillmore Bus Lines, underwent a 45-minute reinspection that identified 10 total violations - 3 major and 7 minor - but none serious enough to warrant closure. Inspector Usman Javaid conducted the inspection between 3:00 PM and 3:45 PM as a follow-up to a routine inspection from October 22.

Temperature Control and Equipment Issues

The most significant violations involved temperature control problems with refrigeration equipment. Inspectors found that a reach-in cooler was maintaining temperatures between 47-50°F at the bottom shelves while the top shelves measured the proper 42°F. Shrimp and chicken that had been placed in the unit two hours earlier were immediately relocated to a working refrigeration unit, and management was instructed not to use the malfunctioning cooler until repairs are completed. Additional temperature violations included marinated meats stored at 53°F in plastic containers in the walk-in cooler, which were moved to metal sheet trays for proper cooling. Staff received education on maintaining meat products at 41°F and below to prevent bacterial growth that can cause foodborne illness.

Correctable Administrative Violations

Several minor administrative violations were noted during this inspection, including an unavailable food safety manager certificate and the need for equipment maintenance. These types of violations are common during reinspections and can typically be resolved quickly without impacting food safety. The inspection also revealed that adequate stainless steel pans were available for rapid cooling procedures, and thermometers were provided to ensure proper temperature monitoring. Minor maintenance issues included items stored improperly and the ongoing need for refrigeration equipment repair.

Chlorine Concentration and Cooling Procedures

Inspectors measured chlorine concentration at 100 parts per million and observed improper cooling of pork soup that was temping between 110°F-120°F three hours after preparation. Ice had melted in the cooling setup, and operators were instructed to reheat the soup and rapidly cool it using proper procedures to prevent bacterial multiplication in the temperature danger zone. Hot and cold holding temperature violations were corrected on site, with staff receiving immediate education on proper food storage techniques. The inspector emphasized that temperature abuse causes 63% of foodborne outbreaks and that pathogens like Clostridium perfringens multiply rapidly between 70-120°F.

Restaurant History and Follow-Up

El Burrito Express #1 has been serving the Pacific Heights community from its location near the Fillmore district, offering traditional Mexican cuisine to local residents and visitors. The restaurant successfully passed a follow-up reinspection on November 4, 2025, with no violations noted, demonstrating the establishment's commitment to correcting the identified issues. The conditional pass allows the restaurant to continue operations while addressing the minor violations identified. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for November 4 or after to ensure all corrections have been properly implemented. The restaurant can be reached at (415) 566-8300 for current operating hours and menu information. This inspection demonstrates the importance of ongoing food safety monitoring while allowing establishments to correct minor issues without disrupting service to the community. The restaurant's quick response to inspector recommendations shows a commitment to maintaining proper food safety standards for its customers.