At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
90/ 100 · 10 points taken off
4 problems found · Routine county inspection · Sep 2, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. El Caminito Restaurant got about the same as most.
Compared with 9,600 Santa Clara County food places. Each place's last routine inspection counts.
What was found out about El Caminito Restaurant?
It's fair to care about this. Here's what the county found. Tap any item to see how a kitchen fixes it.
- Hood filters need cleaning K38How to fixFix it
- Shelves and surfaces need cleaning K33How to fixFix it
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right K14How 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 El Caminito Restaurant's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, El Caminito Restaurant. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim El Caminito Restaurant 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 El Caminito RestaurantWe'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: Hood filters need cleaningThe county found: “Observed dim lighting at the cookline. [Corrective Action] Provide adequate lighting.”
Then the next one: Shelves and surfaces need cleaning
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 4-603.16, Food Code 6-501.112, Food Code 3-302.11.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 3 done
Clean first, then sanitize
From Food Code 4-603.16
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 El Caminito RestaurantWe'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).
Fewer points taken off than last time (16 → 10). That takes a team.
Every visit
LatestSep 2, 2026Routine inspection90 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 90 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Sep 2, 2026.
4 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (4)
Hood filters need cleaning
The department's words
K38 Adequate ventilation/lighting; designated areas, use
Observed dim lighting at the cookline. [Corrective Action] Provide adequate lighting.
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 El Caminito Restaurant? Fix it
Shelves and surfaces need cleaning
The department's words
K33 Nonfood contact surfaces clean
1. Dust accumulation of dust on the soda fountain and lever. [Corrective Action] Thoroughly clean and maintain clean. 2. Grease accumulation on the door hinge of the undercounter cabinets at the food prep area. [Corrective Action] Thoroughly clean and maintain clean.
Food Code 4-602.13
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Shelves, handles and outsides of equipment clean
In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Are you El Caminito Restaurant? Fix it
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Accumulation of grime and mold like substance inside the ice machine near the ice chute. [Corrective Action] Thoroughly clean and sanitize inside the ice machine.
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 El Caminito Restaurant? Fix it
Pests seen inside: fruit flies
The department's words
K23 No rodents, insects, birds, or animals
Fruit flies observed at the service area. [Corrective Action] Eliminate fruit flies using safe methods.
Food Code 6-501.111
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
What to do
- Any sign of mice, rats or roaches: act now. Protect or throw out affected food, clean the area, and call the pest control operator the same day.
- Flies or ants in food areas: act within 24 hours.
- Insects in food: throw that food out and check the stock around it.
From Food Code 6-501.112
What NOT to do
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Signs of pests and what to do
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you El Caminito Restaurant? Fix it
EarlierMay 20, 2025Routine inspection84 out of 100 (Green placard)
7 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (7)
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
Food handler cards for all the employees have expired. [CA] 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.
Cooked food not cooled in time
The department's words
K09 Proper cooling methods
*Repeat complaint Measured refried beans at 90F cooling in deep metal container on ice and at 106F cooling in deep grey plastic container with ice wand. Per chef, he finished cooking and stored beans for cooling about 1.5 hrs ago. [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. [COS] PIC divided the beans into multiple containers and added more ice and water to the ice bath to properly cool the beans.
Hood filters need cleaning
The department's words
K38 Adequate ventilation/lighting; designated areas, use
Lack of adequate lightning at cook line. [CA] In every room and area in which any food is prepared, manufactured, processed or prepackaged or in which equipment or utensils are cleaned, sufficient natural or artificial lighting shall be provided.
Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed
The department's words
K36 Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use
Observed sour cream buckets reused to store cooked food items and tortilla chips. [CA] Single use food container (e.g. soy sauce container, milk carton, apple juice container, can food, wine bottle) shall not be reused to store food.
Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food
The department's words
K27 Food separated and protected
Observed tostada stored in same container at apron and other empty containers. No contamination observed at the time of the inspection. [CA] All food shall be separated and protected from possible contamination. Use a separate container to store tostada. Do not store with aprons or other equipment or utensils.
Show 2 more
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
Accumulation of food debris under storage racks, dish machine, on sides of prep tables and other equipment and grease accumulation on walls. [CA] Walls and/or floors in food preparation area shall be kept clean.
Shelves and surfaces need cleaning
The department's words
K33 Nonfood contact surfaces clean
Accumulation of grease and food debris on door handles of storage units and sides of equipment. [CA] Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris.
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 El Caminito Restaurant, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Hood filters need cleaning In CleanCleaver: Hood filters
- Shelves and surfaces need cleaning In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right Read the free guide
- Pests seen inside: fruit flies Read the free guide
Let El Caminito Restaurant know
Ask for the manager. El Caminito Restaurant can only fix what it knows about.
The department lists no phone for this place.
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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 El Caminito Restaurant?
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
- 90 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.