Health Department Shuts Down Two Restaurants with Cockroach Infestations

The Southern Nevada Health District shut down Pho MaiLan, the Vietnamese restaurant at 10895 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson, after inspectors found a multi-generational cockroach infestation during a routine inspection on June 24. The restaurant also earned 34 demerits for black mold in the ice machine chute, a strainer pot stored upside down on the dirty floor, and excessive grease build-up on the stove. The freezer had a dirty floor, contaminated with food, debris, and trash. Food held at the wrong temperature had to be thrown out.

Pho MaiLan earned a five-demerit A grade on July 1.

Pho Saigon 8, the Vietnamese restaurant at 6908 Rainbow Blvd., earned a 40-demerit C grade on June 24 after a routine inspection. Owner Peter Vu tells KTNV that he thinks a language barrier and cultural differences accounted for many of the demerits. He claims the way his staff wrote expiration dates on food did not conform to SNHD standards, so some food appeared to be expired when it was not. Inspectors found shelves lined with soiled foil, dirty cooking utensils, equipment, and floors, and uncovered sauces, soups, and cooked chicken in the fridge.

Pho Saigon 8 earned a zero-demerit A grade on July 2.

The health department shut down Las Famosas De Jose, the Mexican restaurant at 577 E. Twain Ave., after finding a multi-generational cockroach infestation on June 27 during a routine inspection. Inspectors found large German and small American roaches on the wall and floor behind and next to the ice machine and sink area as well as roach feces on the outlet next to the ice machine. Other demerits during the 19-demerit inspection included chicken held at room temperature, food stored in an outdoor shed, black mold in the ice machine, and dirty equipment such as a cutting board, deli slicer, and can opener. Inspectors noted that the wall behind the ice machine and fridge needed repairs. Flies, too, were a problem, landing inside the restaurant on clean equipment and swarming the outdoor grease catch.

Las Famosas de Jose earned an 8-demerit A grade on June 28.

The health district conducts unannounced inspections at least once a year. Inspections are posted online about five days after the inspection. The Southern Nevada Health District routinely shuts down restaurants that receive more than 40 demerits. Restaurants have the option of requesting a re-inspection before the next scheduled inspection.

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