At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
85/ 100 · 15 points taken off
4 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Jan 29, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria 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 Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria?
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: Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right K14How to fixFix it
- Dish sink or dish machine not set up right K34How to fixFix it
- Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer K40How 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 Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria 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 Cerrito Taqueria And CenaduriaWe'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: Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized rightThe county found: “Major violation: The sanitizer concentration on the kitchen's three compartment warewash sink was measured at 0 ppm…”
First step: Clean first, then sanitize
Then the next one: Dish sink or dish machine not set up right
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 4-301.12, Food Code 3-304.14.
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
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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.
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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 · 4 inspections on record · Last checked Oct 6, 2026
The county visited once in the last 12 months (1 routine).
Every visit
LatestJan 29, 2026Routine inspection85 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 85 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Jan 29, 2026.
4 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
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
Major violation: The sanitizer concentration on the kitchen's three compartment warewash sink was measured at 0 ppm chlorine. [CA] Whenever sanitizing utensils/equipment is conducted using a three compartment warewash sink, there must be a 100-ppm residual chlorine or 200 ppm quaternary ammonia sanitizer level on the sanitizing compartment. The person in charge refilled one sink of the warewash sink with lukewarm water and added bleach manually to create a 100-ppm chlorine solution to sanitize the utensils (COS). Minor violation: Smoothie on containers were left inside the ice machine. [CA] To prevent possible contamination, please do not store any container or food products inside the ice machine.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
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 Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria? Fix it
Not critical (3)
Dish sink or dish machine not set up right
The department's words
K34 Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
There is no approved sanitizer measuring strip to measure the concentration of the chemicals used to sanitize dishes and utensils in the facility. [CA] Provide approved sanitizer measuring strips for the chemicals used in sanitizing utensils. equipment, and food contact surfaces.
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 El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria? Fix it
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
A couple of wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters. [CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach).
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 El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria? Fix it
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
There is not a food safety manager certified person in the facility. [CA] Someone from the facility must take a food safety certificate class within two months and keep a copy of the certificate on file. Food Safety Manager certificate class may be taken on the following websites: 1. Premier Food Safety: https://www.premierfoodsafety.com/food-manager-certification/california\ 2. Learn 2 Serve: https://www.360training.com/learn2serve/food-safety-manager/California 3. Serve Safe Manager: https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Manager
EarlierMay 16, 2025Follow-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.
EarlierMay 15, 2025Routine inspectionRed placard
No violations listed in the data.
EarlierJan 17, 2025Routine inspection86 out of 100 (Green placard)
6 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (6)
Cooked food not cooled in time
The department's words
K09 Proper cooling methods
Cooling of freshly cooked rice, beef stew, and beans was being done at room temperature. [CA] All hot-held food products must be cooled from 135 OF to 70 OF within the first two hours and from 70 OF to 41 OF with another four hours by: (1) Placing the FOOD in shallow pans. (2) Separating the FOOD into smaller or thinner portions. (3) Using rapid cooling EQUIPMENT. (4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer. (5) Adding ice as an ingredient. (6) Using ice paddles. (7) Inserting appropriately designed containers in an ice bath and stirring frequently. The manager was demonstrated on the proper cooling procedure using an ice bath and smaller portions.
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
There is not a food safety manager certified person in the facility. [CA] Someone from the facility must take a food safety certificate class within two months and keep copy of the certificate on file. Food Safety Manager certificate class may be taken on the following websites: 1. Premier Food Safety: https://www.premierfoodsafety.com/food-manager-certification/california\ 2. Learn 2 Serve: https://www.360training.com/learn2serve/food-safety-manager/California 3. Serve Safe Manager: https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Manager Couple of the employees do not have food handler cards. [CA] Employee engaged in food preparation, storage, and service and who do not have food safety certificate must take food handler cards within a month of hire. California approved Food Handler Card (FHC) class providers All Directory Listing (ahttps://anabpd.ansi.org/Accreditation/credentialing/certificate-issuers/AllDirectoryListing?prgID=228,238&statusID=4nsi.org)
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Couple of wet/soiled wiping cloths were stored on the counters. [CA] Wet/soiled wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket that has standard sanitizer concentration in between use which is 200 ppm quaternary ammonia or 100 ppm chlorine (bleach).
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
Some damaged floor patches were observed back in the kitchen area. [CA] Repair the floor with a durable, smooth, nonabsorbent, and easily cleanable surface. Plan must be submitted to our office for approval if the whole floor is going to be replaced.
No backflow test on file
The department's words
K41 Plumbing approved, installed, in good repair; proper backflow devices
The ice machine located in the front service counter area drains into a plumbing structure which is connected to the sewer line. [CA] Drains from preparation sink, fridge, and ice machine must flash into a floor sink. Since there is no floor sink below the ice machine, the ice machine has stop operating until it is relocated into an area which has a floor sink around it. Plan and specification must be submitted to our office and the city's building department to relocate the ice machine or to modify the plumbing structure of the premise. Please contact our plan check unit via an email [email] for any question and submission of plan.
Show 1 more
Dish sink or dish machine not set up right
The department's words
K34 Warewash facilities: installed/maintained; test strips
There is no approved sanitizer measuring strip to measure the concentration of the chemicals used to sanitize dishes and utensils in the facility. [CA] Provide approved sanitizer measuring strips for the chemicals used in sanitizing utensils. equipment, and food contact surfaces.
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 Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right Read the free guide
- Dish sink or dish machine not set up right Read the free guide
- Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer Read the free guide
Call El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria
Ask for the manager. El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria 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.
Do you work at or run El Cerrito Taqueria And Cenaduria?
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
- 85 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.