LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It's better to watch Dirty Dining than to be on Dirty Dining.
A self-proclaimed fan of the weekly segment is currently the subject of it and says he is ready to own up to what health inspectors uncovered.
"I follow your Facebook. I'm a really big Dirty Dining viewer, so I know how that works and I was sure to be careful with my restaurant. But that day it was just my mistakes and I will promise that it won't happen again," said Steven Lim.
Oct. 7 is the day Lim is talking about. The inspection day that resulted in a 34-demerit "C" grade for his restaurant Yu Xiang, located on Rainbow Boulevard and Robindale Road.
It's the first "C" grade Yu Xiang has ever gotten.
"I'll try to be more careful and stuff so we will get an "A" every time," Lim said. "We are very short on staff right now because of COVID. Too many chefs are actually not coming because they don't want to work right now."
Despite the big number of demerits, Lim says they have "fixed the problems" with most of them being minor issues.
Violations included improper handwashing, beef broth and pork that were in the temperature danger zone and had to be thrown out, and raw ground pork that was stored above fresh produce and sauces.
There were dirty dishes in clean storage and dirty wiping cloths on counters.
"I should be more careful with the kitchen. It was totally my fault. I'm following up. I'm trying my best to maintain good quality in the kitchen," Lim said.
Inspectors also found rust and flaking metal inside the rice cooker.
And a very long dirty list that included equipment handles, shelving, fridges, cooking equipment and floors.
"People want to support local businesses and want to help you guys stay on your feet, but they get scared when they see something like this," Darcy Spears noted.
"Yes, of course," Lim said. "But I just want to tell them that a lot of stuff is minor and sometimes the kitchen is busy and we are short on staff right now - it's kind of hard to maintain. A lot of small business owners do their best."
Lim says he's kept in touch with his inspector to follow up and make sure they're doing everything right.
And he wants to keep an open dialogue with the dining public as well.
"Whoever has any questions, they could come to me and ask me. If they have any concerns about anything in my restaurant, I'm always open," Lim said.
Yu Xiang was re-inspected Oct. 22 and is back to an "A" grade.
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Also, an imminent health hazard closure was reported at Water Express on Sahara Avenue and Arville Street.
It was shut down Oct. 6 for a multi-generational cockroach infestation, which was so bad on the inside that they had to shut down the exterior water machines as well.
There were roaches on water jugs, prep surfaces, towels, floors... Just about everywhere.
Inspectors say exterior doors that didn’t fit tightly may have contributed to the presence of pests.
Water Express was back to a zero-demerit "A" grade on Oct. 14.
13 Investigates was unable to reach anyone for comment.
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Click here to see the health report for Yu Xiang.
Click here to see the health report for Water Express.
