Washington County health inspectors shut down a Tigard taqueria in late August after finding cockroaches throughout the kitchen, on food packages and inside the ice machine.
Taqueria Restaurant 7 Estrellas, at 11945 S.W. Pacific Highway, scored a 70 on the county's 100-point scale.
That is technically a passing grade, but inspectors closed the facility specifically for the cockroach infestation. The inspection report described dead and alive cockroach activity spanning multiple generations on prep tables, under the hood, in bowls above the prep line, inside a cooler on food packages, in the ice machine, in the employee restroom and on the floor, as first reported by the Valley Times Wednesday, Sept. 23.
The bugs were not the only problem. Inspectors also found an open package of raw sausage stored above ready-to-eat meat, a repeat violation. Open containers of pesticides sat on the floor near a sink. A personal cake was stored in a cooler above food meant for customers.
It is not clear when the restaurant must pass a reinspection to reopen.
Three other local restaurants scored below 85 in the same late-August cycle. Super Chix at 7126 S.W. Hazel Fern Road in Tigard scored 77 after the person in charge accepted a food delivery while the cooler was broken and stored perishable items in it. Milk, ice cream mix and cut lettuce were discarded.
El Guajillo Grill & Bar at 12725 S.W. Pacific Highway in Tigard scored 81. Raw chicken was stored above ready-to-eat tamales, a repeat violation.
Jersey Mike's Subs at 7698 S.W. Nyberg St. in Tualatin scored 83, with multiple repeat violations including employee beverages stored over soda syrups and prep coolers needing deep cleaning. The Tualatin location scored the same 83 in the prior early-August cycle, with similar repeat issues, the Valley Times reported Sept. 3.
Not every restaurant struggled. Nine area establishments earned perfect 100s in the same round, including Toby's Sports Pub, Dede's Deli, La Fuente and Carl's Jr. in Tigard and Wingstop in Tualatin.
Residents can reach Washington County Public Health at (503) 846-3594.
