RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Panda Express, Reyes Tamales

PALM DESERT, CA —Two Riverside County restaurants were temporarily closed and one fire damaged restaurant remains shuttered since Sept. 2, according to the most recent Riverside County Department of Environmental Health Food Facility Closures Report.

Each month, food facility inspectors follow customer complaints or arrive at restaurants, bakeries, delis, and bars for unanounced inspections. Following rigorous checks, restaurants are issued grades ranging from "A" to "C." For anything under an "A" grade, restaurant owners are given the chance to repair the issues before inspectors leave the premises. Still, some problems take longer to fix, leading to a lengthier closure.

All restaurants must prove that pest control and plumbing issues will not reoccur to remain open and keep that "A" grade.

Kristin Lorge, Deputy Director of the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, discussed how inspections can turn up any number of issues that can lead to illness. However, heat impacts reasons for closure during the summer months.

If it's hot enough outside, insects and vermin try and find their way inside food facilities.

"Heat can increase vermin and insect infestation rates," Lorge told Patch in a recent email.

"Open doors and windows to promote ventilation also open pathways for vermin entry," she said.

Proper weatherstripping, screens, and insect control are vital to keeping restaurants open, she added.

Here are Riverside County restaurants that were closed temporarily due to minor and major violations from Wednesday's 'Food Facility Closures'Report:

Reyes Tamales of Indio, located at 83711 Peach Street, was temporarily shuttered on Sept. 10, according to health inspector's report. There was insufficient hot or cold running water at the eatery for proper hand-washing and dishwashing, leading to a two-day closure, authorities said. The facility was allowed to reopen with an A grade as of Sept. 12, according to the report.

In Palm Springs, Panda Express, located at 425 South Sunrise Way H-1, was shut down on Sept. 8 due to a cockroach, rodent, or fly infestation, according to investigators. The restaurant is currently shut down while owners resolve the issue.

The Perris-based restaurant, Mr. You Express, located at 2560 N. Perris Boulevard, Suite F13, closed on Aug. 28 after a kitchen fire. After the blaze was extinguished, investigators arrived to ensure all food contaminated by fumes from the fire was thrown out.

Once a new hood is installed, investigators say all reusable utensils must be washed, rinsed, sanitized, and air-dried before the restaurant can reopen. The investigators did not have a timeline for the repairs. As of Sept. 13, the restaurant remains closed. Investigators have posted a "Facility Closed" sign at the front door until it passes inspections.

See previous restaurant closures in Riverside County:

• May 4: RivCo Restaurant Health Inspections: Cardenas Market, Starbucks Cited
• May 11: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Boba Fiend, Del Taco, Jack In The Box
• May 18: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Wienerschnitzel, 7-Eleven
• May 25: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Panda Express, Domino's Pizza, Wingstop
• June 1: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Flies in Food; Street Vendors Shut Down
• June 29: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Jamba Juice, Lucky Wok, Pizza Chains
• July 20: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Subway, Sbarro, Spa Food
• Aug. 17: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: McDonald's, Fatburger, Hawaiian BBQ
• Sept. 2: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Tom's Jr. Burgers, Mr. You, Shogun