Four establishments red-tagged in city’s latest inspection report

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information, or to view previous reports, visit cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/food-safety.

GREEN: Food establishment received a passing grade, demonstrating the skills to create a safe and sanitary food-service environment.

YELLOW: Food establishment can operate but must follow a plan to correct violations observed during inspection.

RED: Food establishment had major violations that presented an imminent hazard and required an immediate downgrade or closure.

Nov. 2-8

GREEN

5 Star Burgers, 5901 Wyoming NE (Nov. 7)

Best Buds, 6919 Montgomery NE (Nov. 4)

Birrieria y Tacos Alex, 640 Coors NW (Nov. 5)

Burger 21, 2100 Louisiana NE (Nov. 6)

Cafe Monita, 5701 Gibson SE (Nov. 5)

California Pizza Kitchen, 2241 Q NE (Nov. 5)

Carl’s Jr., 1312 Eubank NE (Nov. 3)

Caveman Burgers & Tacos, 6205 Central NW (Nov. 3)

Chocolate Cartel, 315 Juan Tabo NE (Nov. 3)

Costco, 9955 Coors Bypass NW (Nov. 7)

Crackin’ Crab, 4959 Pan American Fwy NE (Nov. 7)

Donut Mart, 4501 Montgomery NE (Nov. 6)

Gino’s NY Style Pizza, 3908 San Mateo NE (Nov. 7)

Guava Tree Cafe, 118 Richmond NE (Nov. 6)

High Noon Saloon, 425 San Felipe NW (Nov. 7)

Jimmy John’s, 401 Eubank SE (Nov. 4)

Let’s Eat Thai Cuisine, 3115 San Mateo NE (Nov. 4)

Nexus Brewery, 4730 Pan American Fwy NE (Nov. 5) (Class B, Class C)

Pink Pony Soft Serve, 5600 Menaul NE (Nov. 6)

Red Robin, 2100 Louisiana NE (Nov. 6)

Rock Distributing Co., 4801 Jefferson NE (Nov. 4)

Satellite Coffee, 1642 Alameda NW (Nov. 6)

Sheehan Winery, 303 Romero NW (Nov. 6)

Soo Bak Foods, 111 Hermosa SE (Nov. 5)

Tamashi, 6400 Holly NE (Nov. 6)

Thai House, 2000 Carlisle NE (Nov. 6)

The Burrito Lady, 938 Eubank NE (Nov. 7)

The Grass Station, 2523 4th NW (Nov. 3)

The Notorious POKE, 1909 Bellamah NW (Nov. 7)

The Range Cafe, 10019 Coors NW (Nov. 3) (Class B, Class C)

The Sandwich Co., 3100 Carlisle NE (Nov. 3)

Thirsty Eye Brewing Co., 206 Broadway SE (Nov. 6)

Tractor Brewing Co., 1800 4th NW (Nov. 7)

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 6400 Holly NE (Nov. 4)

Waffle House 952, 2250 Yale SE (Nov. 4)

Walmart, 2550 Coors NW (Nov. 4)

Yeller Sub, 7200 Montgomery NE (Nov. 7)

YELLOW

Barbacoa Juarez, 4100 Central SW (Nov. 5)

Birrieria y Tacos Alex, 640 Coors NW (Nov. 5)

Crackin’ Crab, 4959 Pan American Fwy NE (Nov. 7)

Dr. Field Goods, 1909 Bellamah NW (Nov. 3)

Hong Kong Buffet, 10100 Coors NW (Nov. 6)

Nexus Brewery, 4730 Pan American Fwy NE (Nov. 5) (Class C)

The Burrito Lady, 938 Eubank NE (Nov. 7)

The Range Cafe, 10019 Coors NW (Nov. 3) (Class C)

RED

Barbacoa Juarez, 4100 Central SW

Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food exceeding the seven-day holding limit was observed in the reach-in refrigerator. The food establishment did not have a certified food protection manager on staff. The facility was operating with an expired permit. A food employee was observed cooking without proper hair restraints in the grill cooking area. There was no written notification of major food allergens provided for unpackaged food, including sesame seed hamburger buns and packaged nuts. Clean single-service and single-use articles (foiled pans) were improperly stored in the kitchen cabinet, where they could be contaminated. Areas of the facility were observed in disrepair, specifically a missing ceiling tile by an air vent in the kitchen area. The food establishment did not have temperature logs available for TCS food items, specifically birria meat and menudo.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Nov. 5); re-inspection required (Nov. 5); conditionally approved (Nov. 5)

Dr. Field Goods, 1909 Bellamah NW

The facility was observed using reduced oxygen packaging without a compliant HACCP plan. TCS food prepared and held within the establishment lacked date-marking indicators. The person in charge (PIC) was unable to provide records of training or certification for food employees. The chemical sanitizing solution testing kit or device was wet and discolored. A food employee was observed with an improper drink (twist bottle) on the food contact prep table. The facility was operating with an expired permit dating back to Feb. 28, 2025. A food employee handled raw hamburger patties and donned clean gloves without washing their hands first.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Nov. 3); re-inspection required (Nov. 3); conditionally approved (Nov. 3)

Golden Pride, 1824 Lomas NE

Exposed electrical wiring on a light inside the interior of the walk-in cooler in the food processing area was observed in disrepair. The can opener in the food processing area had soil and rust buildup on its food-contact surface. The interior walls and ceiling of the walk-in cooler in the food processing area had debris buildup on their equipment food-contact surfaces. The facility did not provide a designated area for employees to eat, drink or use tobacco products. Pests and droppings (mice droppings, one dead cockroach, and multiple dead flies) were allowed to accumulate on the floor and in the corners of walls under shelves in the processing area. A nonfood contact surface in the food processing area, made out of metal and plastic, had a buildup of soil residues. Food employees did not possess a food handler card or show proof of training in another approved food safety course. The handwashing sink in the back processor area lacked a handwashing sign. Buildup and debris were observed on the floors, walls and ceilings throughout the processing areas. Buildup and debris were also observed on the walk-in coolers’ vent covers in the processing areas. Uncovered food items (green chile stew and carne adovada) were not protected from contamination during storage at the cookline. Food temperature measuring devices were not provided or readily accessible for measuring thin foods. The establishment does not have calibration logs for its temperature-measuring devices. There were holes or gaps in the structure of the facility in the food processing area walls, floors and ceilings. A window was open with no screen and a back roll-up gate was open, creating outer openings to the outside. The ice machine in the food processing area had an inadequate air gap for backflow prevention.

Result: Closure (Nov. 3); re-inspection required (Nov. 3); unsatisfactory (Nov. 6); re-inspection required (Nov. 6)

The Sandwich Co., 3100 Carlisle NE

The chlorine sanitizer solution in the wiping cloth buckets and warewashing machine did not meet the concentration parameters required for adequate sanitization (observed at 25 ppm and 0 ppm). Food-contact surfaces of equipment, specifically the meat slicer, vegetable peeler, can opener and mixer, had dried food and soil debris buildup. The interior of the ice machine behind the front counter had brown and yellow debris buildup around the chute. Poisonous materials (Lysol foam cleaner and oven grill/fryer cleaner) were stored next to single-use articles in cabinets, creating a contamination risk. Pooled raw eggs (approximately 24 quarts) were observed and were not being combined for a customer’s order or for a batter to be cooked immediately. The establishment does not have a certified food protection manager on staff. Food employees did not possess a food handler card or proof of training in an approved food safety course. Interior intake and exhaust air ducts throughout the kitchen and dining room areas had debris buildup. Spice containers in the back prep area were removed from their original packaging but lacked proper labeling or identification. Raw eggs were stored directly above lettuce in the walk-in cooler, unprotected from cross-contamination. Doors to the outside were not tight-fitting, and the back door had a quarter-sized hole in the frame, allowing light entry. Several TCS foods in the kitchen main line and front counter line were observed measuring above 41 degrees. The facility did not provide a designated area for employees to eat, drink or use tobacco products. The facility did not provide lockers or other suitable facilities for the storage of employees’ clothing or personal belongings. Light bulbs in the kitchen’s main cook and prep areas lacked protective shielding or a cover. There was an inadequate amount of lighting observed under the main hood on the kitchen line due to a burned-out light bulb. An employee was observed wearing an unapproved wristwatch while actively working with open food items. Buildup and debris were observed on the floors, walls and ceilings in the kitchen, mainly behind or under equipment. There was no written notification of major food allergens for unpackaged food served or sold to consumers. Nonfood contact surfaces, specifically cabinets behind the counter and under the salad bar, were made of untreated wood and were not smooth or easily cleanable. Nonfood contact surfaces had significant soil residue buildup. The floor tile around the warewashing machine was missing or in disrepair. The wall tile behind the warewashing machine was missing or in disrepair. The food establishment does not have temperature logs available for all TCS food items. The food establishment does not have calibration logs for temperature-measuring devices.

Result: Closure (Nov. 3); re-inspection required (Nov. 3); passed follow-up inspection (Nov. 3)