At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
81/ 100 · 19 points taken off
6 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Jan 8, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. Carnitas El Rincon got more than most.
Compared with 9,600 Santa Clara County food places. Each place's last routine inspection counts.
What was found out about Carnitas El Rincon?
It's fair to care about this. Here's what the county found. Tap any item to see how a kitchen fixes it.
- Marked critical: Hot food below 135°F K07How to fixFix it
- Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food K27How to fixFix it
- Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair K45How to fixFix it
Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
We review Santa Clara County health data to make this report. We are not the County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health.
Visit them directly at deh.santaclaracounty.gov (opens the department's site) · How we review
For Carnitas El Rincon's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, Carnitas El Rincon. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim Carnitas El Rincon first; we check that you run it.
Your whole team can help. Each person gets one next step, and everyone can see what's done.
This is my place: claim Carnitas El RinconWe'll help you get every item done. You don't have to do it alone.
We know an inspection can feel heavy, especially when it's busy.
Fix it together
Follow the steps for each item, with the rule beside it.
Next: Hot food below 135°FThe county found: “In the 2 door display cooler: raw pork measured 54F. Per food employee, raw pork was sliced and stored in cooler 10…”
First step: If food is out of range
Then the next one: Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food
Log it
Your team logs the fix on their phones, with the time and who did it.
Show what you did
Saying what you fixed, in your own words, builds trust. Families and regulars respect a kitchen that owns it and fixes it.
Each fix step comes from the rule it names: Food Code 3-302.11, Food Code 4-603.16, Food Code 3-305.11, Food Code 4-301.12.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Hot food below 135°F
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 3 done
If food is out of range
Logged
That's one done. We'll be here for the next.
What people see now
Today, people see the department's words and nothing from you.
What people see after you fix and log it
Example reply
CleanCleaverBusiness reply
Your business replied to this with the public statement:
We fixed this the same day. Now our team logs it on their phones at open and close.
The date of your reply
This is not an official update to the health inspection report. The county's record is unchanged.
Most kitchens get something cited at some point. What people remember is that you fixed it.
Want to join the restaurants in Santa Clara County that keep their kitchens clean and put their guests' health first?
Claim Carnitas El RinconWe'll set it up with you. 25 days free.
Replies are part of a paid plan. We read each one before it goes up. You can take it down any time. Only the department can change its record.
Do you work there, and someone else owns it? I work there
What people see next
Under each item here, people see what you fixed, in your words.
Left alone, or fixed together
Left alone, the same items can come back at the next inspection. Fixed together, they're done.
Not your place?
CleanCleaver puts these same items on your team's phones, with the rule beside each one. Your binder is ready when the inspector is.
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Inspections
From County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health · 2 inspections on record · Last checked Oct 6, 2026
The county visited once in the last 12 months (1 routine).
Every visit
LatestJan 8, 2026Routine inspection81 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 81 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Jan 8, 2026.
6 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
The department's words
K07 Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
In the 2 door display cooler: raw pork measured 54F. Per food employee, raw pork was sliced and stored in cooler 10 minutes prior. [CA] Potentially hazardous foods shall be held cold at 41°F or below. [SA] Raw pork was relocated to walk in cooler for rapid cooling.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Food Code 3-501.16(A)(1)
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
If food is out of range
- Hot food below 135°F for less than 2 hours: reheat to 165°F.
- Cold food above 41°F for less than 2 hours: chill it right away.
- Unknown time or longer: throw it out.
Which foods need temperature control (TCS)
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Hot and cold holding
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Carnitas El Rincon? Fix it
Not critical (5)
Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food
The department's words
K27 Food separated and protected
*Repeat violation Pork skin observed drying outside in back storage area. [CA] Food preparation shall be conducted within a fully enclosed food facility. [COS] Food employee moved pork skin inside facility.
Food Code 3-302.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Top to bottom
- 1. Top: ready-to-eat food (salads, desserts, cut fruit, cooked leftovers, deli meat, cheese, drinks)
- 2. Raw fish and seafood (cooked to 145°F)
- 3. Whole cuts of beef, pork and lamb; raw shell eggs (145°F)
From Food Code 3-302.11
Keep raw meat types apart
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Fridge and freezer storage order
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Carnitas El Rincon? Fix it
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
*Repeat violation On the wall behind 3 comp sink, FRP section is damaged. [CA] Repair or replace FRP wall and maintain in good condition.
Food Code 6-101.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Sweep and mop
Floors, walls and ceilings clean and in repair
In CleanCleaver: Sweep and mop
Are you Carnitas El Rincon? Fix it
Hood filters need cleaning
The department's words
K38 Adequate ventilation/lighting; designated areas, use
*Repeat violation Both restrooms are lacking window screens. [CA] Restrooms shall have an openable screened window, an air shaft, or a light switch-activated exhaust fan, consistent with the requirements of local building codes.
Food Code 6-501.14
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Hood filters
Hood filters clean
In CleanCleaver: Hood filters
Are you Carnitas El Rincon? Fix it
Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed
The department's words
K36 Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use
*Repeat violation Facility is using back storage space(not enclosed) to store pots and pans. [CA] All cleaned utensils shall be stored in a clean, enclosed, dry location where they are not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination.
Food Code 4-901.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Utensils and dishes stored clean and dry
In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Are you Carnitas El Rincon? Fix it
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
*Repeat violation Food safety manager certificate not available for review. [CA] At least one person in the facility shall maintain a food safety manager certificate. Ensure food safety manager certificates are available for review at all times.
EarlierDec 9, 2024Routine inspection88 out of 100 (Green placard)
5 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (5)
Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed
The department's words
K36 Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use
Facility is using an open space in the back that is not enclosed to store pots and pans and to go containers. [CA] All cleaned utensils shall be stored in a clean, dry location where they are not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination, and at least six inches above the floor. CO2 tanks are not secured to a rigid structure. [CA] All pressurized cylinders shall be securely fastened to a rigid structure.
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Mold like buildup inside the ice machine. [CA] Clean and sanitize routinely to prevent contamination.
Food on the floor or under drips
The department's words
K30 Food storage: food storage containers identified
Soda cans and bottles and to go containers are stored in a space in the back area that is not enclosed. CA] Food or food related equipment shall be stored in an approved fully enclosed food facility.
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
Food Safety Certificate provided is expired. Employee food handler card is not available. [CA] Provide an up to date Food Safety Certificate. Each food handler shall maintain a valid food handler card for the duration of his or her employment as food handler. A valid food handler card shall be provided within 30 days of after the date of hire.
Dish sink or dish machine not set up right
The department's words
K34 Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
Testing strips for chlorine sanitizer are not available. [CA] Testing equipment and materials shall be provided to adequately measure the applicable sanitization method used during manual or mechanical warewashing.
Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health. This is the department's data, not CleanCleaver's. See the department's full record (opens the department's site)
What you can do
As a customer of Carnitas El Rincon, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Hot food below 135°F Read the free guide
- Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food Read the free guide
- Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair In CleanCleaver: Sweep and mop
- Hood filters need cleaning In CleanCleaver: Hood filters
- Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Call Carnitas El Rincon
Ask for the manager. Carnitas El Rincon can only fix what it knows about.
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Use CleanCleaver at home
Families clean together. Chores and food dates for everyone at home.
Complain directly to the health department
We are not the health department. You can report to them on their site. Report to County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health (opens the department's site)
When regulars speak up kindly and kitchens fix things, the whole neighborhood eats well. Now you know what the inspector found, and what you can do about it.
Do you work at or run Carnitas El Rincon?
See the plan to fix each item and show what you did.
Address thisAbout this record
Opens the county's own page for this place.
Most people don't know what a normal result looks like for a place that's open every day. The ranges use each place's last routine inspection in this area. No other county is mixed in.
100 means the inspector found no problems. Santa Clara County takes points off for each problem. Big ones take off more.
The county posts a green, yellow or red placard after each inspection, and gives routine inspections a score. In the county's data, a routine inspection with no violations listed scored 100, and the score drops as violations are found. The county's page does not say which scores or findings give each color: ask the department.
- Inspection type
- Routine inspection
- Result
- 81 out of 100 (Green placard)
- Source
- County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
This is not an official ranking or grade. See the official source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health (opens the department's site) .
Information on this page may be out of date. Check the original source to confirm.