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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Problems with food temperatures and storage lead to the closure of a valley restaurant. Contact 13's Tricia Kean looks at the violations in our Dirty Dining report.

Cooked chicken sitting in a dirty sink, with the faucet dripping on the meat. It's just one of the issues the Southern Nevada Health District discovered at Japan Cafe at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets on South Grand Central Parkway near West Charleston Boulevard. Inspectors slapped it with 59 demerits. Anything more than 40 demerits means an automatic closure.

Other violations: a container stored in the handsink, blocking access. That's what lead to an employee washing his hands in a prep sink.

An employee was also washing equipment in a prep sink. Other violations included food stored at room temperature including rice, chicken and crab. Chicken was also found defrosting at room temperature. Plus, tofu, eggs and barbecue pork were all at improper temperatures in the reach-in cooler. Inspectors also noted that food was stored on the floor throughout the kitchen and the walk-in cooler. Some of it double stacked. And five different employees did not have their health cards available.

Our cameras were not allowed onto Premium Outlets' property. Bu, the restaurant co-owner David Wu did issue a statement over the phone. He says: "The restaurant's food warmer was not keeping food hot enough. And we don't have much storage space at Japan Cafe. Shelves in the cooler needed to be adjusted to make more room, and we have rented extra storage space."

He also says all his employees have their health cards. He says his restaurant hasn't received any complaints, and that their food is fresh and safe.
   
The Southern Nevada Health District tells us Japan Cafe is back open. It was re-inspected two days after it was closed down, and is now operating with a 0 demerit A grade.