SOMA Restaurant Gai Chicken Rice Closed for Rodent Infestation

Gai Chicken Rice on Market Street in San Francisco's SOMA district has been ordered closed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health after inspectors discovered extensive evidence of rodent activity throughout the facility during a reinspection on November 3, 2025. The restaurant at 1001 Market Street, located near Civic Center BART, failed its reinspection when health inspector Usman Javaid found rodent droppings in multiple locations and a dead mouse on a monitoring trap. The facility remains closed with no reopening date announced.

Critical Health Violations Found

During this inspection, investigators documented rodent droppings under the point-of-sale system on the bottom shelf, though inspectors noted the contamination did not directly affect food products. More concerning was the discovery of a dead mouse on a monitoring trap, indicating an active infestation requiring immediate intervention. Additional rodent droppings were found adjacent to walls in the back storage area and near an abandoned prep cooler outside the kitchen area. The widespread nature of the contamination prompted inspectors to issue a closure order under violation #23, which addresses the presence of insects, rodents, birds, or non-service animals in food service establishments. The health department's report emphasized the serious public health risks associated with rodent contamination. Mice produce approximately 50 droppings daily containing dangerous pathogens including Salmonella and hantavirus. These contaminants can spread rapidly throughout food preparation areas, creating significant risks for customers and staff.

Mandated Corrective Actions

Inspectors ordered the restaurant to remove all rodent droppings immediately and implement comprehensive pest control measures. The facility must seal all entry points and holes using exclusion methods to prevent future rodent access. All affected areas require thorough cleaning and sanitization with low-concentration chlorine solutions. The restaurant must also address structural issues that allowed rodents to establish themselves throughout the facility. This includes securing the abandoned prep cooler and implementing ongoing monitoring systems to detect any signs of renewed pest activity.

Restaurant Inspection History

This closure follows a pattern of compliance issues at the establishment. Seven days earlier on October 27, the restaurant had failed its routine inspection, prompting the November 3 reinspection that resulted in the closure order. The facility's location in SOMA, a busy district with significant foot traffic from nearby Civic Center BART station, makes proper pest control particularly crucial. The neighborhood's urban environment requires vigilant sanitation practices to prevent rodent problems that can quickly escalate in commercial food facilities. For restaurants in dense urban areas like SOMA, rodent control represents an ongoing challenge requiring professional pest management services and strict adherence to sanitation protocols. The presence of an abandoned prep cooler and inadequate sealing of entry points created conditions that attracted and harbored the rodent population. The San Francisco Department of Public Health will require evidence of comprehensive pest elimination and prevention measures before considering reopening approval. Customers who visited the restaurant recently and experienced any illness symptoms should contact their healthcare provider and report concerns to the health department.