At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
78/ 100 · 22 points taken off
7 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Feb 17, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. Tamales La Jefa #2 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 Tamales La Jefa #2?
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: Hot food below 135°F K07How to fixFix it
- Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair K45How to fixFix it
- Thermometer missing or reading wrong K39How 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 Tamales La Jefa #2's team
Is this your place?
Welcome, Tamales La Jefa #2. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim Tamales La Jefa #2 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 Tamales La Jefa #2We'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: Hot food below 135°FThe county found: “1. Beans on the range were measured at 65-68F. Per staff they were cooked about 2 and half hours prior. 2. Tamales…”
First step: If food is out of range
Then the next one: Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
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 3-305.11, Food Code 4-603.16.
Try it yourself
Fix and log it: Hot food below 135°F
A practice run. Nothing is saved. Tap each step when it's done.
0 of 3 done
If food is out of range
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 Tamales La Jefa #2We'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 visited 2 times in the last 12 months (2 routine).
Every visit
LatestFeb 17, 2026Routine inspection78 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 78 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Feb 17, 2026.
7 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
The department's words
K07 Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
1. Beans on the range were measured at 65-68F. Per staff they were cooked about 2 and half hours prior. 2. Tamales in an ice chest were measured between 131-134F. Per PIC, they had been in there for about 5 hours. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [COS] Both items were reheated to 165F and hot hold using the burner range. Tamales were reheated in a steam bath and maintained hot. Beans were reheated on the range and set to low once reheated.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Food Code 3-501.16(A)(1)
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
If food is out of range
- Hot food below 135°F for less than 2 hours: reheat to 165°F.
- Cold food above 41°F for less than 2 hours: chill it right away.
- Unknown time or longer: throw it out.
Which foods need temperature control (TCS)
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Hot and cold holding
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
Not critical (6)
Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair
The department's words
K45 Floor, walls, ceilings: built,maintained, clean
There is a leak from the drop ceiling near the kitchen cookline. [CA] Ensure the floor, walls, and ceilings of the facility are kept clean and in good repair.
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 Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
Thermometer missing or reading wrong
The department's words
K39 Thermometers provided, accurate
Facility lacks a probe type thermometer. An infrared thermometer was provided onsite. [CA] An accurate easily readable metal probe thermometer (accurate to +/- 2°F) that is designed to measure the temperature of thin masses shall be provided and readily available to accurately measure the temperatures of potentially hazardous foods.
Food Code 4-203.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Ice-water method
- 1. Fill a large glass with crushed ice, then add cold water to the top. Stir.
- 2. Put the probe in the center, not touching the sides or bottom. A dial thermometer goes at least 2 inches deep, past the dimple.
- 3. Wait 30 seconds, or until the reading stops moving.
- 4. It should read 32°F. If not, adjust it (dial: turn the nut under the head with a wrench; digital: press reset per the maker). Replace it if it can't be adjusted.
Using and cleaning it
3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Thermometers and calibration
The full guide has 3 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
Food on the floor or under drips
The department's words
K30 Food storage: food storage containers identified
Open sacks of flour were observed throughout the facility. [CA] Store open bulk foods in approved NSF containers with tight fitting lids.
Food Code 3-305.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Where food may never be stored
- Keep food at least 6 inches off the floor.
- Never in restrooms, locker or dressing rooms, garbage rooms, or mechanical rooms (furnace, water heater, electrical).
- Never under stairs, or under sewer lines, leaking water lines or fire sprinkler lines.
From Food Code 3-305.11
Top to bottom
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 Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
No backflow test on file
The department's words
K41 Plumbing approved, installed, in good repair; proper backflow devices
The three compartment sink is leaking from the third basin. [CA] Repair plumbing fixture and maintain in clean and good repair.
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 Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right
The department's words
K14 Food contact surfaces clean, sanitized
Facility was observed wet stacking dishes. [CA] Equipment and utensils must be air dried or properly stored to facilitate drying after sanitizing.
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 Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
Show 1 more
Cooked food not cooled in time
The department's words
K09 Proper cooling methods
Tamales in the walk in cooler were found cooling with tight plastic covering and containers stacked over each other. [CA] When cooling PHF's, food may be left uncovered or loosely covered to allow rapid cooling. Ensure to properly store cooling foods in such a way to allow proper air flow.
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 Tamales La Jefa #2? Fix it
EarlierDec 9, 2025Routine inspectionGreen placard
No violations listed in the data.
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 Tamales La Jefa #2, you can:
Learn how these get fixed
Free, step-by-step guides for each item.
- Hot food below 135°F Read the free guide
- Floors, walls or ceilings need cleaning or repair In CleanCleaver: Sweep and mop
- Thermometer missing or reading wrong Read the free guide
- Food on the floor or under drips Read the free guide
- No backflow test on file In CleanCleaver: Backflow device test
- Food-contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized right Read the free guide
- Cooked food not cooled in time Read the free guide
Let Tamales La Jefa #2 know
Ask for the manager. Tamales La Jefa #2 can only fix what it knows about.
The department lists no phone for this place.
Share this page
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 Tamales La Jefa #2?
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
- 78 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.