LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Our Dirty Dining journey begins at Asian Star Buffet on Rainbow and Cheyenne where the first thing we notice is what customers should have been able to, but couldn't see: the restaurant's C grade was hidden behind a box of chopsticks.
Asian Star Buffet got a 29-demerit C grade on its September 5 inspection.
The first thing manager Nick Dong does when he comes out is instruct the hostess to uncover the grade card.
"And you had some food temperature issues," Darcy Spears pointed out.
"Yeah, the food temperature for hot food. So I bought a thermometer."
Something they should have had and should have been using.
On inspection day, multiple foods, including cooked crawfish and cut cabbage, had to be thrown out because they were deep in the temperature danger zone.
Inspectors also saw a food handler preparing carrots and dumping them into an open container on the floor.
There was an open container of raw egg mix sitting on top of sliced carrots.
And boiled eggs, cooked shrimp, cooked beef, prepared noodles, raw shrimp, egg mix, peanuts and cookies were all stored uncovered and subject to contamination.
To overcome a significant language barrier, Nick says he went to the Health District's main office and they showed him what on the inspection was not good and how to clean and make the appropriate changes.
He acknowledges that more training is the key for Asian Star to get its A grade back... starting with keeping things clean.
Inspectors found heavy, old, dried food debris and build-up on utensils and equipment including knives, scissors, forks, peelers, the meat grinder, can opener and deli slicer.
There was also excessive grease, food debris and standing water throughout the main cook line area.
Nick was the person in charge on inspection day and the Health District says he couldn't demonstrate food safety knowledge.
They've scheduled re-inspection for Oct. 1.
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Let's call this part Gross Grocers, where Family Dollar on Decatur and Vegas needs a clean up on aisle 1, 2, 3... Heck, all of them!
This is the fourth Family Dollar to appear on Dirty Dining for rodent problems.
It was shut down Sept. 6 for failing to comply with Health District orders regarding a mouse infestation.
They were supposed to get intensive pest control, move merchandise off the floor and away from walls, seal holes and clean up rodent droppings.
But the health report says Family Dollar "Did not perform the escalated pest control services required."
Family Dollar was back open on Sept. 7 with a zero-demerit A grade, but did not return our call for comment.
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Miga (now known as JP catering) on Flamingo and Jones was shut down Sept. 3 for the imminent health hazard of no hot water.
Inspectors also found an uncovered container of seaweed on the floor, beef and fish thawing at room temperature, and the facility's C grade was not posted.
It was back to a zero-demerit A grade on Sept. 6.
We were unable to reach anyone for comment.
Click here to see the health report for Asian Star Buffet.
Click here to see the health report for Family Dollar.
Click here to see the health report for JP Catering.
