SF House of Dim Sum Closed for Sewage, Rodent Violations

Health inspectors ordered the immediate closure of House of Dim Sum Inc in North Beach after discovering sewage disposal violations and a rodent infestation that contaminated food preparation areas. The Chinese restaurant at 735 Jackson Street was shut down during a routine inspection on November 5, 2025, after inspectors found critical health violations that posed immediate dangers to public safety.

Critical Health Violations Force Closure

The most alarming discovery during this inspection involved improper sewage and wastewater disposal throughout the facility. Inspectors documented sewage-related contamination that could expose customers to billions of pathogens including hepatitis A, norovirus, and E. coli bacteria. Health experts warn that just one tablespoon of sewage contains 100 million bacteria capable of causing immediate severe illness. Equally disturbing, inspectors found evidence of rodents and other pests throughout the restaurant. The pest infestation violated critical food safety standards designed to prevent disease transmission. Mice produce up to 50 droppings daily containing dangerous pathogens like Salmonella and hantavirus, while rats can spread plague and leptospirosis through their waste and urine.

Food Safety Breakdown

Beyond the sewage and pest issues, inspectors discovered multiple violations affecting food handling and storage. Kitchen staff were found violating proper handwashing procedures, a critical defense against foodborne illness transmission. The violation was corrected on site, but the damage to food safety protocols had already occurred. Temperature control problems further compromised food safety. Inspectors found the walk-in cooler holding food at 44 degrees Fahrenheit, with the person in charge explaining the door had been left open while washing floors. This temperature abuse creates ideal conditions for dangerous bacteria like Clostridium perfringens, which multiplies rapidly between 70-120 degrees Fahrenheit, and Listeria, which can grow even at refrigeration temperatures. Food separation and protection standards were also violated, creating cross-contamination risks. When raw meats drip onto other foods, they spread dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter throughout the facility. Such contamination has caused massive foodborne illness outbreaks affecting hundreds of people.

Kitchen Sanitation Crisis

Inspectors documented extensive cleanliness failures throughout the facility. The kitchen, walk-in cooler, shelving units, under-counter service areas, and cooking equipment were found "caked in flour" with accumulated debris under equipment. This level of uncleanliness provides breeding grounds for bacteria and pests while making proper sanitation nearly impossible. The hood and cook line areas showed similar neglect, with grease and food buildup creating fire hazards and additional contamination risks. Such conditions indicate systemic failures in basic restaurant hygiene that could have exposed every customer to foodborne illness.

First-Time Violation Pattern

This closure marks the first documented health inspection for House of Dim Sum Inc, making the severity of violations particularly concerning. With no previous inspection history to establish patterns, the extensive list of critical and major violations suggests fundamental operational failures from the restaurant's opening. The facility remains closed pending comprehensive remediation of all violations. Customers who recently dined at the restaurant near the Powell-Mason Cable Car line should monitor their health for symptoms of foodborne illness and seek medical attention if experiencing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The San Francisco Department of Public Health has not announced a timeline for potential reopening, indicating the serious nature of the violations discovered during the November 5 inspection.