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Tropic-Cal

Other food place · San Jose, CA

1 inspection

At a glance

CleanCleaver food safety systematic review results

What happened?

6 problems found · 1 marked critical · Routine county inspection · Jan 21, 2026

Is that a lot?

Most food places here got 2 to 15 points taken off. Tropic-Cal 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 Tropic-Cal?

It's fair to care about this. Here's what the county found. Tap any item to see how a kitchen fixes it.

  1. Marked critical: Hand sink not ready to use K06How to fixFix it
  2. Food thawed the wrong way K26How to fixFix it
  3. Hot food below 135°F K07How to fixFix it

See all 6 items ↓

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.

Which one are you?

For Tropic-Cal's team

Is this your place?

Welcome, Tropic-Cal. We'll walk through this together, one item at a time. To log the fixes, claim Tropic-Cal 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 Tropic-Cal

We'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.

  1. Fix it together

    Follow the steps for each item, with the rule beside it.

  2. Log it

    Your team logs the fix on their phones, with the time and who did it.

  3. 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 3-501.13, Food Code 7-201.11, Food Code 3-302.11.

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 Tropic-Cal

We'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.

Start for my business

25 days free. Cancel anytime.

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

  1. LatestJan 21, 2026Routine inspection81 out of 100 (Green placard)

    This one: 81 out of 100 (Green placard), inspected Jan 21, 2026.

    6 violations listed, 1 marked critical.

    Critical (1)

    • Marked critical by County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health

      Hand sink not ready to use

      The department's words

      K06 Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible

      Hand wash sink in the kitchen and in the restroom lacked hand soap. [CA] Provide handwashing cleanser in dispenser at handwash stations at all times. Ensure hand soap and paper towels are readily available and easily accessible at all times. [COS] Manual pump bottles of hand soap were provided.

      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.

      Fix and log it now

      Are you Tropic-Cal? Fix it

    Not critical (5)

    • Food thawed the wrong way

      The department's words

      K26 Approved thawing methods used; frozen food

      PHF items thawing out in ambient temperature on the right drain board of the three-compartment sink. [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.

      Fix and log it now

      Are you Tropic-Cal? Fix it

    • Hot food below 135°F

      The department's words

      K07 Proper hot and cold holding temperatures

      Cooked pork maintained at the steam table measured between 120F at the top to 135F at the bottom. At the time, owner stated that the steam table was not turned on. [CA] PHFs shall be held at 41°F or below or at 135°F or above. [COS] Steam table temperature was increased. PHF items was reheated to 165F at the stove prior to returning item to hot hold.

      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.

      Fix and log it now

      Are you Tropic-Cal? Fix it

    • Chemicals unlabeled or stored near food

      The department's words

      K29 Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

      Chlorine sanitizer solution in the sanitizing bucket measured above 200 PPM. [CA] Wiping towels shall be stored in sanitizing solution of an approved concentration when not in use (100 ppm - chlorine, 200 ppm - quaternary ammonium). [COS] Solution was diluted.

      Food Code 7-201.11

      How can a restaurant or home fix this?

      Store them away from food

      • Store chemicals below and away from food, dishes, utensils, linens and single-use items. Never on a shelf above food.
      • Separate them by space or a partition.
      • Keep only the chemicals the kitchen needs.

      From Food Code 7-201.11

      Label every container

      3 more steps in the full guide Read the free guide

      Chemicals and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

      Fix and log it now

      Are you Tropic-Cal? Fix it

    • Raw food not kept apart from ready-to-eat food

      The department's words

      K27 Food separated and protected

      Container of raw shelled eggs maintained directly on the floor in the walk-in refrigerator. [CA] Food shall be stored at least 6 inches above the floor to prevent 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.

      Fix and log it now

      Are you Tropic-Cal? Fix it

    • Restroom not stocked or needs cleaning

      The department's words

      K43 Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned

      Restroom door maintained opened. [CA] Toilet rooms shall be separated by well-fitted, self-closing doors that prevent the passage of flies, dust, or odors. Maintained restroom door closed at all times.

      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.

      Fix and log it now

      Are you Tropic-Cal? 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 Tropic-Cal, you can:

  1. Learn how these get fixed

    Free, step-by-step guides for each item.

    Open the steps here

  2. Let Tropic-Cal know

    Ask for the manager. Tropic-Cal can only fix what it knows about.

    The department lists no phone for this place.

  3. Share this page

  4. Use CleanCleaver at home

    Families clean together. Chores and food dates for everyone at home.

    See CleanCleaver for home

  5. 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 Tropic-Cal?

See the plan to fix each item and show what you did.

Address this

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
81 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.

Questions about Tropic-Cal

When was Tropic-Cal last inspected?

The county last inspected Tropic-Cal on Jan 21, 2026. It was a routine inspection.

What did the county find at Tropic-Cal?

The county listed 6 violations on Jan 21, 2026: Hand sink not ready to use; Food thawed the wrong way; and Hot food below 135°F, and 3 more.

What does a critical item mean?

Critical items are the ones most likely to make someone sick. On Jan 21, 2026, the county marked 1 as critical.