An August health inspection found a string of food safety and cleanliness problems at restaurants in Multnomah County, including raw chicken stored above strawberries, cooked foods held above safe temperatures, mold in an ice machine, rodent droppings in kitchens, expired foods and dishwashers that were not properly sanitizing dishes.
The county’s public health department conducts unannounced, semiannual inspections of food-service establishments to assess compliance with health codes across three categories:
Priority items: Violations that pose direct risks related to foodborne illness prevention, such as failing to discard contaminated or spoiled food.
Priority foundation items: Issues requiring management action, equipment, or procedures that reduce potential health hazards, such as proper labeling, temperature monitoring, or record-keeping.
Core items: Violations typically tied to general sanitation, facility upkeep, and overall maintenance.
Establishments, including restaurants and food carts, start with 100 points, with 3 to 5 points deducted for high-priority violations.
A score of 70 or higher is considered a pass, and results are visible via a placard at the establishment.
The following received scores of 100:
Gresham
Big Town Hero — 1334 N.W. Civic Dr.
Cold Stone Creamery — 1111 N.E. Cleveland Ave. A
Jersey Mike’s Subs — 2025 N.E. Burnside Rd.
Portland
Aalto Lounge — 3356 S.E. Belmont St.
Ace Tavern — 8868 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Al-Amir Restaurant — 223 S.W. Harvey Milk St.
Banh Mi Up — 8037 N. Lombard St.
Beer — 1410 S.E. Stark St.
Binks — 2715 N.E. Alberta St.
Blockhouse — 1988 N.W. 18th Ave.
Burnsider Food Truck — 833 N.W. 16th Ave.
Carl’s Jr.,— 14836 S.E. Division St.
Clark’s Coffee — 3356 S.E. Belmont St.
Cutie Pie Pizzeria — 6127 N.E. Fremont St.
Domino’s Pizza — 453 N.E. 70th Ave.
Elevate Night Club — 125 N.W. Fifth Ave.
Enchanted Sun Breakfast Burritos — 833 N.W. 16th Ave.
Firkin Tavern — 1937 S.E. 11th Ave.
Fortune BBQ Noodle House — 18 S.E. 82nd Ave.
Fujiyama Sushi Bar and Grill — 4124 S.E. 82nd Ave.
Glass House Tavern — 9710 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Havalina — 8927 N. Lombard St.
High Dive — 1406 S.E. 12th Ave.
Hour Glass Pub and Eatery — 7401 N.E. Glisan St.
Jim Dandy’s Drive In — 9626 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Kasbah Moroccan Cafe — 201 N.W. Davis St.
KFC — 14515 S.E. Division St.
Latino’s Pizzeria — 458 S.E. 185th Ave. 112
Maruti Express — 11150 N.E. Weidler St.
McGillacuddy’s — 11133 N.E. Halsey St.
McMenamins Mall 205 Pub — 9710 S.E. Washington St.
MidCity SmashedBurgers — 5211 N.E. 148th Ave.
Miss Orange Tea & Pastry — 816 S.E. Eighth Ave.
Mizu Sushi Bar — 1338 S.W. Third Ave.
Mocha Express — 1951 S.E. 82nd Ave.
Momiji Sushi Restaurant — 1469 N.E. Prescott St.
Momiji Sushi Restaurant — 4425 N.E. Fremont St.
My Brother’s Crawfish — 8230 S.E. Harrison St.
PQN — 4615 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Unit B
Por Que No Taqueria — 4635 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Round Two — 4835 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Sandy-O’s — 10505 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
Secret Pizza Society — 7201 N.E. Glisan St.
Shake — 28 N.W. Fourth Ave.
Slow Pour — 7727 S.E. 13th Ave.
Smash Me Daddy — 9320 S.E. Woodstock
Soy Grill Teriyaki — 9738 S.E. Washington St.
Stella’s Sandwiches & Bowls — 431 S.W. Harvey Milk St.
Stumptown Cuisine — 12503 S.E. Division St.
Subway Eastport Plaza — 4328 S.E. 82nd Ave. 4000
Subway — 9740 S.E. Washington St.
Tokyo Sando — 431 S.W. Harvey Milk St.
Tony’s Tavern — 10524 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
TPK Brewing — 5051 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Vancouver Pizza and Wing House — 111 N. Failing St.
Vya — 959 S.E. Division St.
Wayfinder Beer — 304 S.E. Second Ave.
White Pepper — 7505 N.E. Glisan St.
Wonderwood Springs — 8811 N. Lombard St.
The following received scores below 90:
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Gresham
Don Pedro — 841 E. Powell Blvd.
Score: 78
Violations: The inspector found a handwashing sink blocked by a bucket and another sink without hot water due to a leak.
Cooked beef and beans were not cooling properly, and cheese, cut lettuce and tomatoes were being held at unsafe temperatures.
Two spray bottles containing degreaser were not labeled. A dirty wiping cloth was found on a cutting board without sanitizer, and a knife was stored in a hard-to-clean gap between equipment.
Sweet Donut World — 720 N.E. Burnside Road
Score: 83
Violations: The inspector found an employee drink stored in an improper container near the food preparation area and a handwashing sink without readily available paper towels.
Raw bacon was stored above dough in a refrigerator, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
Two tongs used for handling donuts were heavily soiled and had not been cleaned during the day.
Greasy cardboard was also being used on the floor around the baking area.
Portland
Angelo’s — 4620 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Score: 86
Violations: The inspector found that the kitchen paper towel dispenser was empty. Mold was also found inside the ice machine, along with buildup inside the soda gun.
Meatballs were being held at 125°F instead of 135°F or above, and sliced cheese was at 55°F instead of 41°F or below.
Several foods, including roast, hard-boiled eggs and hot dogs, were missing required date labels. Old rodent droppings were also found in several areas of the facility.
Ancestro — 3901 N. Williams Ave. Suite A
Score: 80
Violations: The inspector found that an employee returned to food preparation after eating without washing their hands before putting on gloves.
The sanitizer in the three-compartment sink had no detectable sanitizer. The inspector also found salsa being held at 88°F and other foods in the insert cooler at 47°F, both above the required cold-holding temperature.
Several refrigerated foods were also past their required seven-day shelf life.
Big Dawg Basket — 458 S.E. 185th Ave Suite 108
Score: 89
Violations: The inspector found that the handwashing sink did not have proper paper towels or hand soap available.
The sanitizer spray bottle had no detectable chlorine, and the facility did not have test strips to check sanitizer levels.
Hungry Dumpling House — 4111 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Score: 84
Violations: The inspector found that the dishwasher was not dispensing sanitizer, and no sanitizer bucket was set up during food preparation. The facility also did not have a chlorine sanitizer test kit.
Raw fish and chicken were being thawed at room temperature instead of using proper thawing methods.
Rodent droppings were found throughout several areas of the kitchen, including around freezers, sinks, the dishwashing area and the soda machine. The kitchen also had grease and food buildup that needed cleaning.
Bags of recyclables were being stored inside the walk-in cooler.
Izakaya Hachi — 580 S.W. 12th Ave.
Score: 70
Violations: The inspector found that several handwashing sinks were missing paper towels or blocked by dirty dishes.
The facility could not provide documentation showing that raw fish had been properly frozen to prevent parasites. Cooked meat skewers were also stored below raw fish and squid, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
The ice machine had visible bacterial buildup, and several cooked foods were missing required date labels. Pre-cooked shrimp was also being held without proper time marking.
The grill hood had grease buildup and missing vent covers.
La Buca — 40 N.E. 28th Ave
Score: 87
Violations: The inspector found raw chicken and sausage stored above strawberries and seafood, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
Several foods, including baked mac and cheese, lasagna and bolognese, were held past the required seven-day shelf life.
The facility was also missing a chlorine sanitizer test kit needed to check sanitizer levels.
Little Griddle — 3520 N.E. 42nd Ave.
Score: 87
Violations: The inspector found raw eggs stored above raw produce in the refrigerator, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
The dishwashing machine was not dispensing enough chlorine sanitizer, and the facility did not have test strips to check the sanitizer level.
Pepe Chile’s — 3441 N. Vancouver Ave.
Score: 78
Violations: The inspector found that a structure behind the food cart was still being used for storage, including food, equipment and broken coolers. Some food was also left inside the broken coolers.
The handwashing sink contained dishes and a container of food, making it unavailable for handwashing.
Raw fish was stored above drinks in the cooler, creating a risk of cross-contamination. The sanitizer solution used for cleaning rags was also too weak.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House — 850 S.W. Broadway
Score: 78
Violations: The inspector found that a handwashing sink was not dispensing paper towels because the dispenser had low batteries. The glassware dishwasher was also not reaching the required sanitizer level.
Several opened milks and cheeses were missing required date labels. Whipped butter was being held out of refrigeration with an incorrect time label.
The inspector also found a fly trap stored above food and bacterial buildup on a ventilation cover inside a refrigerator.
Sassy’s — 927 S.E. Morrison St.
Score: 79
Violations: The inspector found that the bar handwashing sink was missing paper towels.
The walk-in cooler was too warm, with food temperatures at 46°F instead of 41°F or below. The inspector also found an expired cheesecake and sanitizer solutions that were too strong.
Both thermometers in the walk-in cooler were inaccurate, and fruit flies were found in the utility room.
Stella’s Sandwiches & Bowls — 431 S.W. Harvey Milk St.
Score: 84
Violations: The inspector found that the handwashing sink was blocked by an empty jug and could not be easily used.
A bag of raw garlic had visible mold or bacterial growth and was considered unsafe.
The refrigerator had raw meats stored above cooked foods and vegetables, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
Several cooked foods were missing required date labels. Rice paddles were also stored improperly, with their handles touching the food.
Temptations Bikini Espresso — 1724 S.E. Grand Ave.
Score: 81
Violations: The inspector found an auxiliary wastewater tank that was not part of the mobile unit and a missing wheel that prevented the unit from remaining fully mobile.
The handwashing sink was being used to store a water pitcher and did not have soap directly at the sink. Raw eggs were also stored above cheese and cooked bacon, creating a risk of contamination.
The chlorine sanitizer was too strong.
Tito’s Burritos — 340 S.W. Fifth Ave.
Score: 87
Violations: The inspector found cooked chicken and pork were being held at unsafe temperatures while cooling and had not been properly cooled to 41°F or below before use. The operator was instructed on proper cooling methods and added more ice.
Several cooked foods were also missing required date labels. The operator added the labels during the inspection.
The sanitizing solution used for cleaning cloths was too weak. More chlorine was added to bring it to the proper strength.
Xin Ding Dumpling House — 71 S.W. Second Ave.
Score: 84
Violations: The inspector found several food safety and cleanliness problems. Employee food and drinks were stored in an improper area, raw chicken and pork were stored above butter, and a knife and sharpener were dirty.
The walk-in refrigerator was too warm, with food temperatures reaching 55-57°F instead of 41°F or below. The food was moved to working refrigerators, and the walk-in will be checked again in two weeks.
Other issues included missing refrigerator thermometers, unlabeled food, standing water in a refrigerator and dust and grease buildup on equipment and floors. The restaurant was instructed to label food, add thermometers, make repairs and clean the affected areas.
