At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
82/ 100 · 18 points taken off
5 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Dec 8, 2025
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. Chaat Cafe 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 Chaat Cafe?
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: Hands not washed when needed K05How to fixFix it
- Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer K40How to fixFix it
- Dish sink or dish machine not set up right K34How 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 Chaat Cafe's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, Chaat Cafe. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim Chaat Cafe 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 Chaat CafeWe'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: Hands not washed when neededThe county found: “Observed employee handling soiled equipment and then touching sanitized equipment without washing hands. [CA] Ensure…”
First step: When to wash
Then the next one: Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
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 2-301.14, Food Code 3-304.14, Food Code 4-301.12, Food Code 4-603.16.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Hands not washed when needed
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 3 done
When to wash
From Food Code 2-301.14
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 Chaat CafeWe'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.
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Inspections
From County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health · 3 inspections on record · Last checked Oct 6, 2026
The county visited once in the last 12 months (1 routine).
Fewer points taken off than last time (23 → 18). That takes a team.
Every visit
LatestDec 8, 2025Routine inspection82 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 82 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Dec 8, 2025.
5 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
The department's words
K05 Hands clean, properly washed; gloves used properly
Observed employee handling soiled equipment and then touching sanitized equipment without washing hands. [CA] Ensure that hands are properly washed with soap and water prior to touching sanitized equipment. [COS] Equipment was sanitized again. Minor: Observed employee on their phone and touching their face, employee then proceeded to prepare food without washing hands. [CA] Ensure that hands are washed with soap and water after touching personal items and body parts prior to preparing food.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Food Code 2-301.12
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
When to wash
- Before you start food work and before you put on gloves
- After the restroom (wash twice; see below)
- After touching your face, hair, nose or body
From Food Code 2-301.14
How to wash
4 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Handwashing
The full guide has 4 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Chaat Cafe? Fix it
Not critical (4)
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Sanitizing bucket did not have any measurable sanitizer inside. [CA] Wiping towels shall be stored in sanitizing solution of an approved concentration when not in use (100 ppm - chlorine, 200 ppm - quaternary ammonium).
Food Code 3-304.14
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Keep the bucket strong
- Wet cloths sit in sanitizer between uses: chlorine 50–99 ppm, or quat at label strength.
- Test with the cloths in the bucket when you mix it and every 2 hours.
- Remake it at once if it tests low or has food or dirt in it. Never just add more sanitizer to a dirty bucket.
From Food Code 3-304.14
Keep cloths apart
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Wiping cloths and sanitizer buckets
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Chaat Cafe? Fix it
Dish sink or dish machine not set up right
The department's words
K34 Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
Test strips were not available at time of inspection. [CA] Testing equipment and materials shall be provided to adequately measure the applicable sanitization method used during manual or mechanical warewashing.
Food Code 4-301.12
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Set up
- 1. Wash your hands at the hand sink (never at this sink).
- 2. Clean and sanitize all three sinks and both drainboards.
- 3. Sink 1 (WASH): detergent and water at 110°F or hotter.
From Food Code 4-301.12
Washing, step by step
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
The three-compartment sink, step by step
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Chaat Cafe? Fix it
Cooked food not cooled in time
The department's words
K09 Proper cooling methods
Observed masala measuring at 96F on counter. Per PIC, it was cooked less than 2 hours prior and eventually would be placed into the walk in fridge. Observed several containers of partially cooked chicken measuring 125F and 86F. Per PIC, they were cooked less than 2 hours prior and would be eventually be placed into the walk in fridge. Observed deep container (5-6") of curry cooling in the walk in fridge. [CA] After heating or hot holding, Potentially Hazardous Foods (PHFs) shall be cooled rapidly from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Approved cooling methods include: 1) Placing the food in shallow pans 2) Separating the food into thinner or smaller portions. 3) Using rapid cooling equipment (Ex. blast chiller) 4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer (ex. stainless steel) 5) Adding ice as an ingredient. 6) Using ice paddles 7) Using an ice bath and stirring frequently 8) Accordance with a HACCP plan. Cooling foods shall have enough space around the containers for cold air to circulate, be loosely covered, or uncovered and stirred as frequently needed to evenly cool.
Food Code 3-501.14
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
If you miss a stage
- Missed stage 1 (not 70°F by 2 hours): reheat to 165°F and start over, or throw it out.
- Missed stage 2 (not 41°F by 6 hours): throw it out.
How to cool fast
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Cooling food in two stages
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Chaat Cafe? Fix it
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Quaternary ammonia measured 0ppm from dispenser at three compartment sink. [CA] Repair/replace dispenser and maintain quaternary ammonia from dispenser at 200ppm.
Food Code 4-602.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Clean first, then sanitize
- 1. Scrape off food.
- 2. Wash with detergent and warm water.
- 3. Rinse off the soap (soap weakens sanitizer).
From Food Code 4-603.16
When to clean food-contact surfaces
4 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Cleaning vs sanitizing, and sanitizer strengths
The full guide has 4 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Chaat Cafe? Fix it
EarlierNov 8, 2024Follow-up inspectionGreen placard
No notes were taken, but there was an interaction, likely addressing some or all of the prior report. No inspector comment was found. See the official report (opens the department's site) for more information.
EarlierNov 5, 2024Routine inspection77 out of 100 (Yellow placard)
5 violations listed, 2 marked critical.
Critical (2)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
The department's words
K05 Hands clean, properly washed; gloves used properly
Observed employee handle used/soiled equipment, employee then handled sanitized equipment from mechanical warewash without washing hands. [CA] Employees must wash hands after handling soiled equipment and before handling sanitized equipment to prevent cross contamination. [COS] Employee informed and washed hands.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
1. Observed employee wash a pan with soap and water, employee then placed the pan back out for use. [CA] Manual warewashing shall be accomplished by using a three-compartment sink where the utensils are first precleaned, washed with hot soapy water, rinsed with hot water, sanitized with an approved method, and air dried. Use 1 TBS of bleach (5.25%) per 1 gal. of water for chlorine solution (100 PPM). Use 1 tbs of quaternary ammonium (10%) per 2 gal. of water for quaternary ammonium (200 PPM). Mechanical warewash may be used instead of sanitizing compartment of three compartment sink. 2. Minor: Observed employee rinse equipment off after it was sanitized. [CA] Equipment and utensils must be air dried or properly stored to facilitate drying after sanitizing.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Not critical (3)
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
Food handler cards have expired. [CA] Each food handler shall maintain a valid food handler card for the duration of his or her employment as food handler available for review. A valid food handler card shall be provided within 30 days of after the date of hire.
Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food
The department's words
K27 Food separated and protected
A container of cooked chicken was stored next to raw chicken in the walk in fridge. [CA] All food shall be separated and protected from cross-contamination. Store all raw meat or other raw products of animal origin below ready-to-eat food items.
Food on the floor or under drips
The department's words
K30 Food storage: food storage containers identified
Observed a bag of flour stored on the floor of the dry storage area. [CA] Food shall be stored at least 6 inches above the floor to prevent contamination.
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 Chaat Cafe, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Hands not washed when needed Read the free guide
- Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer Read the free guide
- Dish sink or dish machine not set up right Read the free guide
- Cooked food not cooled in time Read the free guide
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right Read the free guide
Call Chaat Cafe
Ask for the manager. Chaat Cafe can only fix what it knows about.
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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.
About 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
- 82 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.