At a glance
CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results
What happened?
80/ 100 · 20 points taken off
6 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Jul 27, 2026
Is that a lot?
Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. Tapioca Express 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 Tapioca Express?
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
- Restroom not stocked or needs cleaning K43How to fixFix it
- No hot or cold water at a sink K21How 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 Tapioca Express' team
Is this your place?
Welcome, Tapioca Express. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim Tapioca Express 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 Tapioca ExpressWe'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: “No sanitizer available within facility. Food employee stated that they ran out of chlorine sanitizer last night.…”
First step: Clean first, then sanitize
Then the next one: Restroom not stocked or needs 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 6-301.11, Food Code 3-501.19, 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
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 Tapioca ExpressWe'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).
Every visit
LatestJul 27, 2026Routine inspection80 out of 100 (Green placard)
This one: 80 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Jul 27, 2026.
6 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
No sanitizer available within facility. Food employee stated that they ran out of chlorine sanitizer last night. [CA] A food facility that prepares food shall not be operating if there is no method to properly clean and sanitize equipment or utensils. The food facility shall cease operation immediately. The food facility shall remain closed until a method to clean and sanitize equipment or utensils is provided. [COS] Operator provided chlorine sanitizer.
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 Tapioca Express? Fix it
Not critical (5)
Restroom not stocked or needs cleaning
The department's words
K43 Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
Restrooms are lacking hand soap dispensers and toilet paper dispensers. [CA] Provide hand soap dispensers at hand wash stations. Toilet tissue shall be provided in a permanently installed dispenser at each toilet.
Food Code 6-302.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
Check the restroom
- Soap, paper towels or a dryer, toilet paper and warm water at every restroom sink.
- The door closes by itself.
- After the toilet: wash in the restroom, then wash again at the kitchen sink.
From Food Code 6-301.11
Clean it on a schedule
5 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide
Restrooms, mops and rags
The full guide has 5 more parts. Sign up to open the full guide in the app.
Are you Tapioca Express? Fix it
No hot or cold water at a sink
The department's words
K21 Hot and cold water available
Water temperature at the preparation sink and the 3 compartment sinks measured 113F . [CA] Hot water shall be supplied at a minimum temperature of at least 120°F measured from the faucet throughout facility except at handwash sinks. [COS] Water heater was adjusted. Water temperature measured 121F throughout facility.
Food Code 5-103.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Log hand sink and dish water temperatures
Hot and cold water at every sink
In CleanCleaver: Log hand sink and dish water temperatures
Are you Tapioca Express? Fix it
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
*Repeat violation: Food safety manager certificate not available for review. Employee food handler certificates not available for review. [CA] At least one person in the facility shall maintain a food safety manager certificate. Food handlers shall maintain a valid food handler certificate. Ensure food safety manager certificates and food handler certificates are available for review at all times.
Thermometer missing or reading wrong
The department's words
K39 Thermometers provided, accurate
Refrigeration units are lacking thermometers. [CA] A thermometer +/- 2°F shall be provided and correctly located in each cold holding unit containing potentially hazardous foods. Place thermometer where it is easily visible while checking refrigerator temperature.
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 Tapioca Express? Fix it
Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed
The department's words
K36 Equipment, utensils, linens: Proper storage and use
In the bulk food storage containers, scoop handle observed in direct contact with food. (brown sugar) [CA] Store scoop handles in such a way that the handle does not come in direct contact with food to prevent contamination.
Food Code 4-901.11
How can a restaurant or home fix this?
In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Utensils and dishes stored clean and dry
In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Are you Tapioca Express? Fix it
EarlierFeb 17, 2025Routine inspection84 out of 100 (Green placard)
4 violations listed, 1 marked critical.
Critical (1)
Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health
Time as a control not marked or logged
The department's words
K08 Time as a public health control; procedures & records
Boba in service area countertop is subject to TPHC, but is not time marked for discard at 4 hours. [CA] When time only, rather than time and temperature is used as a public health control, PHFs shall be time marked to indicate when item is removed from temperature control, discarded if not consumed or served within 4 hours, and written procedures shall be readily available for review.[COS] PHF time marked for discard at 4 hours.
Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. This one comes first. Here's how a kitchen fixes it.
Not critical (3)
Wiping cloths left out of sanitizer
The department's words
K40 Wiping cloths: properly used, stored
Several wet/used wiping towels held on food preparation tables. [CA] Wiping towels shall be stored in sanitizing solution of an approved concentration when not in use (100 ppm - chlorine, 200 ppm - quaternary ammonium).
The department's words
K06 Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible
Lack of single use paper towels in dispenser (service area). [CA] Single-use sanitary towels shall be provided in dispensers; heated-air hand drying device may be substituted for single-use towels.
The department's words
K01 Demonstration of knowledge; food safety certification
Repeat violation FSC is not available for review at time of inspection. [CA]Food facilities that prepare, handle, or serve non-prepackaged potentially hazard foods shall have a valid Food Safety Certificate available for review at all times. Food handler cards are not available for review at time of inspection. [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.
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 Tapioca Express, 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
- Restroom not stocked or needs cleaning Read the free guide
- No hot or cold water at a sink In CleanCleaver: Log hand sink and dish water temperatures
- Thermometer missing or reading wrong Read the free guide
- Utensils or dishes stored wet or unwashed In CleanCleaver: Check a room top to bottom
Call Tapioca Express
Ask for the manager. Tapioca Express can only fix what it knows about.
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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 Tapioca Express?
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
- 80 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.