Echigo Home Cook Gets Conditional Pass for Minor Violations

Echigo Home Cook, the Japanese restaurant located at 870 Valencia Street in San Francisco's Mission district, received a conditional pass during a routine health inspection on December 4, 2025. The establishment can continue serving customers while addressing several correctable violations identified during the inspection. The San Francisco Department of Public Health conducted the inspection from 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM, finding nine total violations with four corrected immediately on site. The conditional pass allows the restaurant to remain open while working to resolve the remaining issues before a required follow-up inspection scheduled for December 11.

Equipment and Permit Issues

The primary concern involved two PerfectFry ventless cooking units that were impounded due to lack of proper building permits. Health inspectors discovered that no building permit had been issued for the installation of this specialized Japanese cooking equipment, requiring immediate discontinuation of use until proper permits are obtained. The ice machine presented sanitation concerns with a mold-like substance buildup in its interior, requiring deep cleaning and sanitizing. Additionally, the dishwashing machine was not dispensing the required 50 parts per million chlorine due to an empty sanitizer container, though no active warewashing was occurring at the time.

Food Safety Training Needs

Inspectors found that employees present lacked basic food safety knowledge in several critical areas including manual and mechanical warewashing procedures, proper cleaning and sanitizing protocols, handwashing requirements, and appropriate food storage methods. The restaurant must provide valid California food handler cards for all food handling employees and maintain a valid food safety manager certificate on site. During this inspection, an employee was observed entering the food preparation area without properly washing hands first, though this was corrected immediately when directed by inspectors. Food contact surfaces initially lacked proper sanitizer solution setup during active food preparation, but staff quickly established the required sanitizing station.

Food Storage and Sanitation Corrections

Several food storage violations were identified and corrected on site. Raw beef was found stored above cucumbers in the upright cooler, creating potential cross-contamination risks. Inspectors also observed chopsticks and a spoon improperly stored in the handwashing sink basin during food preparation activities. The restaurant needs minor equipment repairs, including fixing the handle that regulates water discharge at the three-compartment sink. Staff were also directed to discontinue placing food containers on top of the compost trash can in the food preparation area.

Restaurant Operations Continue

Despite the violations found, Echigo Home Cook's conditional pass status allows the establishment to continue serving customers near the 24th Street Mission BART station. The restaurant, operated by Bistro Lovessy LLC, specializes in traditional Japanese home-style cooking and can be reached at (415) 823-7593. This represents the restaurant's first recorded health inspection since opening, with no previous inspection history available in city records. The establishment has until December 11 to address the remaining violations and demonstrate compliance with food safety regulations during the follow-up inspection. The conditional pass reflects the correctable nature of the violations found, with many issues already resolved during the initial inspection visit. Restaurant management is working with health officials to ensure full compliance with San Francisco's food safety standards while maintaining service to the Mission district community.