Rodent Droppings At Multiple Eateries: Ashburn, Sterling Restaurant Inspections

ASHBURN, VA — Numerous restaurants in the Ashburn and Sterling area recorded violations during health department inspections in early May, and several had pest-related violations.

Violations at restaurants typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. The local health department can also perform a re-inspection to ensure that possible violations have been corrected. For every observed violation, the inspector provides a specific corrective action that can be completed to rectify the violation.

Sometimes these are simple, and violations can be corrected during the course of the inspection. Some common violations may include foods hot holding or cold holding at improper temperatures, foods without dates marked, and sanitizer with improper amounts.

Here are restaurant inspection results in and around Ashburn and Sterling in recent weeks, according to the Loudoun County Health Department. Restaurants cited for rodent droppings included Manhattan Pizza, Siam Spice Thai Cuisine and Signature Burgers, Hotdogs & Wings.

Signature Burgers, Hotdogs & Wings had the violation appear in a follow-up inspection and a previous inspection.

In addition to the rodent droppings, inspectors found traps with live and dead roaches, plus a live roach in the kitchen at Siam Spice Thai Cuisine.

At restaurants with pest violations, health inspectors recommended thorough cleaning, regular inspecting for pests and pest control service.

All recent reports in Ashburn and Sterling are listed below.

Senor Ramon Taqueria: 22455 Davis Dr #120 Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 12

Violations:

• The chlorine sanitizer solution in the three-compartment sink measured 0-25 ppm, which is too low to be effective.
• Sliced mushrooms improperly held at a temperature 114F during hot holding.
• No test strips available to test sanitizer solution in three-compartment sink.

Masa Luna Restaurant: 209- A East Holly Ave Sterling, VA 20164

Last inspection: May 12

Violations: No violations found. Facility has added a sleeve to the menu with the consumer advisory. Facility listed poultry and pork as well on the advisory. EHS discussed with facility if they do not offer these items raw or undercooked to remove them. Facility stated they do not undercook poultry or pork by customer request. Facility also labeled chemical spray container.Facility has cleaned walk in refrigerator shelving.

Taco Bell #036549: 44855 Lakeview Overlook Plz Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 12

Violations:

Facility does not have the chlorine beach on hand as stated in their "Clean-up and disinfectant" procedures to properly respond to vomiting or diarrheal incidents.

Pattie Party: 44921 George Washington Blvd #100 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 12

Violations: No violations found. This follow-up was conducted remotely. Person In Charge (PIC) sent EHS picture verification of sanitizer and food thermometer. Violation 1510 and 1535 has been corrected. Report emailed to the PIC.

El Mercadito Hispano II: 250 Sterling Boulevard Sterling, VA 20164

Last inspection: May 12
Violations:

• Observed multiple food items (fried pork 93F after 2 hours of cooling, tomato soup 122F after 2 hours of cooling) stored on the kitchen counter.
• Observed food employee drinking from an open container in the food prep area.
• Observed food employees failed washing their hands between tasks of handling raw animal protein and ready to eat foods (RTE).
• Observed improper food storage in the walk-in refrigerator (raw chicken over ready-to-eat salsa, raw chicken over skirt steak, shell eggs stored below raw beef).
• Observed several ready-to-eat foods (individually portioned salad 45F, salsa 58F) in the low boy fridge unit at improper cold holding temperature.
• Observed multiple prepared in-house items (salsa, coleslaw, tamales, pupusa cheese and beans filling) in the walk-in refrigerator without proper date marking.
• Observed large container of raw beef in the walk-in refrigerator stored directly on the floor.
• Observed heavily soiled dry cloths throughout the kitchen used for wiping spills on food prep counters.
• Observed expired test strips for measuring chlorine concentration. Food employee was unable to determine proper sanitation concentration in the three-compartment sink.
• Observed light bulb at the entrance to the prep area without protective shield.

Manhattan Pizza: 21800 Town Center Plaza, Unit #255 Sterling, VA 20164

Last inspection: May 12

Violations:

• Observed food employee actively eating over the pizza prep station during inspection. Observed bottles of water and employee personal items (mirror, tweezers) at hot holding station.
• Observed no hand drying provisions at any of the hand washing sinks in the kitchen.
• Observed rodent droppings along the walls throughout the kitchen and in the back office.

Siam Spice Thai Cuisine: 22330 S Sterling Blvd #A129 Sterling, VA 20164

Last inspection: May 12

Violations:

• Observed PIC and other employee handling RTE food on plates and sending it to the dining room with their bare hands.
• Observed the only handwashing sink in the kitchen blocked by hanging personal items on a hook rack.
• Observed a pot of panang sauce that had been cooling for 3 hours sealed with plastic wrap at room temperature and had only reached 81F.
• Observed multiple items in the 2-door reach in cooler holding above 41F including: spicy mayo (48F), rice portions (48F), raw shrimp (47F), raw chicken (48F), chopped greens (47F), crispy tofu (45F), and tilapia filets (51F).
• Observed facility storing bleach not designed for food contact surfaces. PIC stated this is the bleach used in their sanitization.
• Observed multiple items cooling improperly including rice and panang sauce both cooling in deep, tightly wrapped containers at room temperature.
• Observed 2-door cooler unable to hold food at 41F or below.
• Observed ROP thawed fish in the reach-in cooler still in its sealed package.
• Facility does not have ambient air thermometers in either large reach-in cooler.
• When asked, PIC was unable to provide any type of thermometer for testing food temperatures and stated that they usually do not check them.
• Observed a cockroach crawling up the kitchen wall behind the microwave, traps full of living and dead roaches in the dry storage room, large amounts of mouse droppings throughout the dry storage room, and piles of dead bugs in the freezer door shelving.
• Facility is reusing vinegar bottles and garlic tubs for sauces and marinades.
• Observed rice scoops sitting in cups of still room temperature water.

Authors Best - Selling Ice Creams: 44933 George Washington Blvd #150 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 12

Violations:

• The person in charge (PIC) was not able to produce a verifiable employee health reporting agreement for each of the food employees.
• Facility is now offering pints of ice cream for sale in a grab and go type setting (stand up glass front reach in freezer) the packaged pints of ice cream do not have ingredient labels.
• Cardboard boxes of gallon ice cream mix are stored directly on the floor of the walk in cooler.

MG Food US: 47024 Leesburg Pike 104 Sterling, VA 20164

Last inspection: May 12

Violations:

• PIC was not able to produce Health Policy form for himself, or other employees on sight. EHS provided PIC with copies of plan and explained the importance of the Employee Health Policy.
• PIC was not able to produce a copy of the Norovirus clean-up form.
• Employee water bottles were stored throughout kitchen co-mingled with food items.
• Mixer was stored in front of handwashing sink preventing the convenient use of sink. Handwashing sink was also missing paper towels.
• Observed raw eggs stored above reach to eat (RTE) chicken.
• Observed raw chicken with an internal temperature of 46F and milk balls with an internal temperature of 60F. PIC stated both food items were stored at those temperatures in excess of 6 hours.
• There was no established date marking procedure happening for food items.
• Observed multiple cans of bug spray in facility.
• Observed single use utensils stored in a box at the self service bar, that does not prevent the potential contamination from self-service practices.
• Observed handle of 3 door reach in, and back splash behind oven, and side of oven, with an accumulation of milk splatter.

Pakos Fresh Mex: 21100 Dulles Town Cir #236 Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 9 (pre-opening)

Violations: Pre-opening inspection failed. Contact me when occupancy has been applied for, as well as fire inspection passed. It appears at this time the hood does not meet the requirements of new equipment.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop (TERMINAL B): 1 Saarinen Cir. Dulles, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 9

Violations: No violations found. The purpose of today's visit was to conduct a follow up inspection.- All remaining violations have been corrected.

Bagels & More Terminal C: 1 Saarinen Cir. Dulles, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 9

Violations: They had cut bagels by the handwashing sink. EHS educated the PIC in order to avoid potential contamination to move the bagels farther away to avoid splash from the handwashing sink. They also had a sanitizer bucket on the same counter with the bagels. Educated PIC to move the sanitizer bucket away from the bagels. All other violation stayed corrected.

Olive Garden Restaurant: 45970 Waterview Plaza Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 8

Violations:

• Observed raw chicken stored over lasagna sheets in the walk-in cooler.
• Observed missing cooling temperatures on temperature log from 5-2-2025 and 4-25-2025.
• Observed utensils on prep line stored in stagnant 94F water.

Punjabi Junction: 23520 Overland Dr #122 Dulles, VA 20166

Last inspection:

• Observed that the person in charge (PIC) was not able to ensure employees are using proper methods to rapidly cool time/temperature control for safety food (TCS) and cold holding of TCS food through daily oversight of the employees' routine monitoring of food temperatures during cooling and holding.
• A container of raw marinated chicken observed over raw marinated salmon and raw ground lamb on a shelf in the walk in refrigerator in the kitchen.
• Observed improper cooling of TCS food item in that large amount tomato onion sauce registered at 50°F in large deep plastic container in the walk in refrigerator. As per the PIC said sauce had been cooling for more than 12 hours in the walk in refrigerator.
• Yogurt sauce and mint cilantro sauce in the reach in refrigerator registered at 51F in the reach in refrigerator.
• Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods must be held at 41°F or below in that chicken curry, raw chicken, heavy cream and tomato sauce (gravy) registered between 44°F-48°F in the prep cooler refrigeration unit in the kitchen. Said unit registered at 46°F. Said unit not adequately cooled to maintain the TCS food items temperature at or below 41°F. As per the PIC said food has been placed in said unit for an hour.
• Date marking not provided for all prepared ready to eat food items such as vegetable kofta, potato tikis in the walk in refrigeration unit, yogurt sauce and cilantro green pepper sauce in reach in refrigerators in the facility.
• Inadequate cooling method used in that large amount tomato onion sauce observed being cooled in large deep container; hence said sauce registered 50F after more than 12 hours of cooling.
• Effective hair restrainers and beard restrainers not provided to all the food employees in the kitchen.
• Utensils observed stored in warm water registered at 100°F on stove in between use.
• Low boy refrigerator in front of the stoved holding TCS food items registered at 52F.

Santini's Ashburn: 44640 Waxpool Rd Ste 125 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 6

Violations:

• Employee beverages improperly stored. Open cans of soda and water bottles observed in an active food preparation area.
• There is no hand sink available in the back room by the three compartment sink.
• There are no paper towels at the hand sink to dry hands. Provide paper towels at hand sink for proper hand drying at all times.
• When tested, there was no available Quaternary Ammonia sanitizer at the three compartment sink, sanitize kitchen utensils after cleaning.
• Kitchen knife observed being stored on the wall sticky strip with accumulation of food residues.
• Inside of the Microwave by the hot holding station observed with accumulation of food residues.
• Chili noted as improperly cooled to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Chili was made at last night and has been cooling for more than 6 hours.
• Observed time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS) not properly dated for disposition. Foods not labeled include: Cooked/sliced chicken, chilis.
• Pizza pies observed on the cooling trays without a time label. Facility also doesn't have a written procedures for the time control food item.
• Wet wiping clothes observed not being stored inside the sanitizer solution.
• Tall reach in freezer observed not functioning properly.

Yummy Shawarma: 21100 Dulles Town Circle Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 6

Violations:

• Multiple buckets of sauce, a rice cooker with cooked rice within and disposable paper plates were observed stored directly on the floor.
• EHS observed a utensils used for the formation of falafel stored in a container of room temperature water that was stagnant.
• EHS observed heavy soil residue within the reach in cooler in the back where chicken and beef cones are stored.
• EHS observed that the mop/utility sink is clogged and is very slow to drain creating standing water.

& Pizza, (Terminal B71): 1 Saarinen Cir. Dulles, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 6

Violations:

• Observed handwashing sink at the bar was not stocked with a means to dry hands after washing.
• Observed can opening was significantly covered with food debris/residue.
• Observed several TCS items (Tofu, Vegan chicken, Cut-tomatoes, Meatballs, Spinach) in lowboy top to be at temperatures above 41F.

Starbucks Coffee D Shuttle: 1 Saarinen Cir. Dulles, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 6

Violations:

• Observed lactic acid sanitizer at 452 ppm. Per manufacturer guidelines concentration is to be between 704 - 1875 ppm.

Charley's Philly Steaks: 21100 Dulles Town Cir #116 Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 6

Violations: No violations found.

Auntie Anne's Pretzels: 21100 Dulles Town Cir #262 Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 5

Violations:

• The person in charge (PIC) was unable to produce the establishment's written vomit and diarrheal clean up procedures.
• Employee belongings were found being stored on top of flour in the back room.

Taco Zocalo: 44927 George Washington Blvd #110 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 5

Violations:

• 3-compartment sink was found to only be able to produce a wash solution temperature that did not exceed 108*F

Tropical Smoothie Cafe VA 12: 20598 East Hampton Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 5

Violations:

• Ceiling vent observed to have dust accumulation.

Signature Burgers, Hotdogs & Wings: 21100 Dulles Town Cir #258 Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 5

Violations:

• Observed an open can of chili in the walk in cooler with no date marking.
• Observed an accumulation of mouse droppings under the front service counter area.
• Observed food employee to not be wearing hair restraint while working with food.
• Observed no testing device to test the concentration of the sanitizer at the facility.
• Observed the hand sink by the vegetable slicing table and 3 compartment sink to be leaking.

Finn Thai Restaurant: 44795 Dulles Overlook Dr #165 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: May 5 (pre-opening)

Violations: No violations found. Before official opening. Supply soap and paper towel dispensers in all handwashing sinks. Add all handwashing signs to handwashing sinks. Obtain thermometers for walk in freezer, walk in cooler and sushi cooler.

Subway: 20789 Great Falls Plaza #166 Sterling, VA 20165

Last inspection: May 5

Violations:

• Observed meatballs in marina sauce improperly hot holding with an internal temperature of 100F for 1 hour.
• Observed sliced turkey (47F), sliced tomatoes (47F), chicken salad (50F), improperly cold holding for 3 hours in the low boy 2 door reach in cooler. Said cooler had an internal temperature ready of 53F.

Chowrastha: 21100 Dulles Town Cir #244 Dulles, VA 20166

Last inspection: May 5

Violations:

Observed hose bibb with spray nozzle attached with no back flow deice at mop sink.