At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
76/ 100 · 24 points taken off
8 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Jan 26, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. El Mazatleco 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 El Mazatleco?
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: Hand sink not ready to use K06How 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 K44How 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 Mazatleco's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, El Mazatleco. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim El Mazatleco 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 MazatlecoWe'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: Hand sink not ready to useThe county found: “The soap dispenser in the restroom was empty. [CA] Keep soap dispenser stocked at all times. [COS] Employee…”
First step: Hand sinks are for hands only
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 2-301.15, Food Code 3-302.11, Food Code 4-603.16, Food Code 3-501.13.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Hand sink not ready to use
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 3 done
Hand sinks are for hands only
From Food Code 2-301.15
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 MazatlecoWe'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 · 1 inspection on record · Last checked Oct 6, 2026
The county visited once in the last 12 months (1 routine).
Every visit
LatestJan 26, 2026Routine inspection76 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 76 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Jan 26, 2026.
8 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
The department's words
K06 Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible
The soap dispenser in the restroom was empty. [CA] Keep soap dispenser stocked at all times. [COS] Employee restocked soap. ______ Minor violation: At the kitchen handsink: observed clean knives/spoons stored on a magnetic holder under/adjacent to the paper towel dispenser, making it difficult to acquire paper towels without contaminating the clean equipment. [CA] Store clean equipment away from the handsink dispensers to prevent contamination.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Food Code 5-205.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Hand sinks are for hands only
- Wash only at a handwashing sink.
- Never wash hands in the dish sink, a food prep sink, a mop sink, or a drink cooler.
- Never dump drinks, rinse utensils or fill pitchers at the hand sink.
From Food Code 2-301.15
Soap and hand sanitizer
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 El Mazatleco? Fix it
Not critical (7)
Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food
The department's words
K27 Food separated and protected
Inside the upright refrigerator: observed raw meats stored on a shelf directly above uncovered vegetables. [CA] Store raw animal products below/away from ready-to-eat foods to reduce risk of contamination.
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 El Mazatleco? Fix it
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K44 Premises clean, in good repair; Personal/chemical storage; Adequate vermin-proofing
Observed open doorway between the kitchen and the outdoors. [CA] Kitchen/food prep areas shall not be exposed to outside areas. Install a door etc. as needed.
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 El Mazatleco? Fix it
Plan review
The department's words
K48 Plan review
Facility has not obtained written approval for the unapproved dishwashing machine in the kitchen, which was originally cited in 2023. [CA] Contact Plan Check at [phone] or [email] to follow up on next steps for approval of dishwasher. Inspector provided hard copy of Plan Check letter from 7/20/2023 for SR087841 today. Dishwasher was impounded. See notes below.
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Observed brown mold-like substance on the metal baffle inside the ice machine. [CA] Keep the ice machine clean.
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 Mazatleco? Fix it
No backflow test on file
The department's words
K41 Plumbing approved, installed, in good repair; proper backflow devices
At the kitchen handsink: observed drain pipe extended into the floor sink. [CA] Provide a minimum 1 inch air gap between the drain pipe and the top rim of the floor sink.
Food Code 5-205.15
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Backflow device test
Backflow test on file
In CleanCleaver: Backflow device test
Are you El Mazatleco? Fix it
Show 2 more
No menu note about raw or undercooked food
The department's words
K19 Consumer advisory for raw or undercooked foods
Facility serves undercooked animal products (undercooked eggs, ceviche) but no consumer advisory was available on the menu. [CA] If a menu offers undercooked animal product, a consumer advisory must be provided on the menu. The consumer advisory consists of BOTH: 1) "Disclosure": Clearly indicate WHICH menu items contain undercooked animal products. AND 2) "Reminder": The following statement in writing on the menu: “Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.”
The department's words
K26 Approved thawing methods used; frozen food
Observed meats thawing at ambient room temperature in the kitchen. Operator stated the items had been thawing for 1 hour. [CA] Frozen potentially hazardous food shall be thawed using one of the following methods: 1) Under refrigeration 2) Completely submerged under cold running water of sufficient velocity to flush loose particles 3) In a microwave oven 4) During the cooking process
Food Code 3-501.13
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
4 safe ways
- 1. In the fridge (best): on the bottom shelf in a pan, at 41°F or below. Plan about 1 day per 4–5 pounds.
- 2. Under cold running water: fully covered by water that is 70°F or colder, in a clean sink. Cook right away.
- 3. In the microwave: then cook right away.
- 4. As part of cooking: cook straight from frozen. Allow about 50% more time and probe to the usual temperature.
From Food Code 3-501.13
Never
2 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Thawing frozen food
The full guide has 2 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you El Mazatleco? Fix it
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 Mazatleco, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Hand sink not ready to use 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
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right Read the free guide
- No backflow test on file In CleanCleaver: Backflow device test
- Food thawed the wrong way Read the free guide
Let El Mazatleco know
Ask for the manager. El Mazatleco can only fix what it knows about.
The department lists no phone for this place.
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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
- 76 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.