At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
96/ 100 · 4 points taken off
2 problems found · Routine county inspection · Oct 6, 2025
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. El Pollo Loco #3226 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 Pollo Loco #3226?
It's fair to care about this. Here's what the county found. Tap any item to see how a kitchen fixes it.
- No backflow test on file K41How to fixFix it
- Food thawed the wrong way K26How 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 Pollo Loco #3226's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, El Pollo Loco #3226. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim El Pollo Loco #3226 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 Pollo Loco #3226We'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: No backflow test on fileThe county found: “Found leaking faucet at warewash sink (left side) middle when water is off and (right side) middle connecting faucet…”
Then the next one: Food thawed the wrong way
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 3-501.13, Food Code 3-304.14.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Food thawed the wrong way
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 4 done
4 safe ways
From Food Code 3-501.13
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 Pollo Loco #3226We'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.
25 days free. Cancel anytime.
Inspections
From County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health · 2 inspections on record · Last checked Oct 6, 2026
The county lists no visits in the last 12 months.
Fewer points taken off than last time (7 → 4). That takes a team.
Every visit
LatestOct 6, 2025Routine inspection96 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 96 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Oct 6, 2025.
2 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (2)
No backflow test on file
The department's words
K41 Plumbing approved, installed, in good repair; proper backflow devices
Found leaking faucet at warewash sink (left side) middle when water is off and (right side) middle connecting faucet when water knob is turned on. [CA] Secure leak.
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 Pollo Loco #3226? Fix it
The department's words
K26 Approved thawing methods used; frozen food
Found several bags of guacamole sitting in 1-compartment sink in process of thawing with no cold running water. [CA] Frozen potentially hazardous food shall only be thawed in one of the following ways: 1) under refrigeration that maintains the food temperature at 41°F or below, 2) completely submerged under potable running water for a period not to exceed two hours at a water temperature of 70°F or below, and with sufficient water velocity to agitate and flush off loose particles into the sink drain, 3) in a microwave oven if immediately followed by immediate preparation, 4) as part of a 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 Pollo Loco #3226? Fix it
EarlierNov 6, 2024Routine inspection93 out of 100 (Green placard)
3 violations listed, 0 marked critical.
Not critical (3)
The department's words
K07 Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
Measured cooked chicken breast holding between 132F - 134F in 2 door under warmer at point of sell (POS). [CA] Maintain all PHFs hot held at or above 135F. [COS] Operator directed to reheat PHFs to 165F.
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Measured 0ppm quat concentration at middle cooks line. [CA] Maintain quat concentration at 200ppm or as specified by manufacturer. [COS] Operator remade quat concentration. Final reading at 200ppm.
No backflow test on file
The department's words
K41 Plumbing approved, installed, in good repair; proper backflow devices
1. Found missing atmospheric pressure valve at mop sink. [CA] Replace atmospheric pressure valve. 2. Found leaking faucet at warewash sink (right side) when water knob is off. [CA] Secure leak.
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 Pollo Loco #3226, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- No backflow test on file In CleanCleaver: Backflow device test
- Food thawed the wrong way Read the free guide
Let El Pollo Loco #3226 know
Ask for the manager. El Pollo Loco #3226 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.
Do you work at or run El Pollo Loco #3226?
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
- 96 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.