Banh Mi Cali
Last inspected: Mar 28, 2025
74
Score
Going back to 2024, Banh Mi Cali has three inspections in the public record. On Mar 28, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around six violations lately and about 12 violations before that.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable”, showing up three times.
Among Philadelphia restaurants, this is a fairly standard result. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 28, 2025
Reinspection
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food employees observed not wearing or wearing ineffective hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints. New Violation.
46.152
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: Observed an out-of-order ice machine in the prep area. Observed soda crates being used for item storage in the ware washing area and the basement rather than approved shelving.
46.671
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: A hose line from equipment in the kitchen drains into a container in the basement (instead of an approved drain or collection device). New Violation.
46.862
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: Toilet room door is not self-closing at the rear prep area.
46.922(d)
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Observed debris on the floor perimeter surfaces in the basement storage areas.
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Light bulb inside the reach-in refrigerator is partially shielded from breakage (end cap is missing at top). New Violation.
46.922(a)
74
Jan 27, 2025
Reinspection
4 critical violations. 7 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 11 violations
Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Observed insecticide(can of insect spray) not labeled by the manufacturer for food facility usage, in the prep area. Management was informed that this product is to be used by licensed exterminators, only.
46.1026
Hands clean & properly washed
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Food employee observed donning single use gloves without a prior hand wash. Employee was told to wash hands, prior to wearing gloves, and he agreed.
46.132
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Observed bowls inside of the handwashing sink in the prep area. The bowls removed, while on site.
46.941(a)-(e)
Proper date marking & disposition
Inspector notes: Potentially hazardous foods (sliced carrots and vegetables) prepared in the food facility are located inside the refrigerators and are not date marked.
46.385(b)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: Dust observed on the ventilation unit at the ceiling of toilet room. New Violation.
46.981(b)(i)
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Observed broom and dustpan on the floor rather than properly hung to prevent vermin attraction.
46.981(e)(m)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Dim lighting observed inside the basement. New Violation.
46.943
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: - Observed mouse droppings on the floor perimeter surfaces in the basement storage areas.
46.981(k)(l)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: Sponges observed on the 3 compartment sink and being used to clean food contact surfaces. New Violation.
46.521(f)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: - Observed an out-of-order ice machine in the prep area. - Observed soda crates being used for item storage in the basement rather than approved shelving.
46.671
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: -Debris observed on equipment and shelf surfaces in the prep and basement storage areas. - Observed dust and rust on racks in the basement storage areas.
46.714
39
Dec 30, 2024
Routine
5 critical violations. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 14 violations
Food separated & protected
Inspector notes: - Food items in the closed display case were in plastic bags rather than approved covered containers or wrappings to prevent contamination. - Employee only food items were stored in the closed-display case with food items for commercial use. Employee only food items were not labeled or covered to protect from contamination of foods for commercial use. New Violation.
46.281
Proper date marking & disposition
Inspector notes: Potentially hazardous foods (sliced carrots and vegetables) prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the rear prep area, were not date marked. New Violation.
46.385(b)
Proper cold holding temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Sliced carrots on the prep table were held at 58 degrees F rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. Corrective action; Person in charge segregated the carrots from use during the inspection.
46.385(a)(2)
Hands clean & properly washed
Inspector notes: Food employee observed donning single use gloves without a prior hand wash. New Violation.
46.132
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
Inspector notes: Observed a colander inside of the handwashing sink in the prep area. New Violation.
46.941(a)-(e)
Certification by accredited program, compliance with Code, or correct responses
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: A person with a valid Philadelphia Food Safety Certificate was not present for the inspection. Corrective action; Manager with a ServSafe certificate arrived shortly after the inspection began. Sanitarian emailed the manager the Philadelphia Food Safety Certificate application.
46.103
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: Working bulk food ingredient storage container in the prep area was not labeled with the common name of the food. New Violation.
46.282
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: - Observed mouse droppings on boxes of single-service food articles (cups and containers) in the basement storage areas. - Observed mouse droppings on shelving surfaces in the basement storage areas. - Observed mouse droppings on the floor perimeters and surfaces in the basement storage areas. New Violation.
46.981(k)(l)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: Moist wiping cloths observed lying on equipment and not stored in sanitizing solution. New Violation.
46.304
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Common bowls or food containers observed without handles in direct contact with bulk food ingredients in the prep area. New Violation.
46.302
Gloves used properly
Inspector notes: Observed single use gloves being used for multiple tasks without being changed, or not being discarded when damaged or soiled. New Violation.
46.305
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: - Observed an out-of-order ice machine in the prep area. - Observed soda crates being used for item storage in the basement rather than approved shelving. New Violation.
46.671
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: - Observed dust and mouse droppings on boxes of single-service food articles (cups and containers) in the basement storage areas. - Observed mouse droppings on shelving surfaces in the basement storage areas. - Observed grimes and stains on the exterior and interior surfaces of the closed-display case. - Observed debris inside of the reach-in refrigerator. - Observed ice accumulations inside the chest freezer in the basement storage area. - Observed dust and rust on racks in the basement storage areas. New Violation.
46.714
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: - Observed unsealed utility lines in the prep areas. - Observed milk crates on the floor surfaces in the basement storage areas. New Violation.
46.921
29
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Banh Mi Cali last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Banh Mi Cali on file is from Mar 28, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Banh Mi Cali?
Across the inspection record, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Banh Mi Cali.
Has Banh Mi Cali's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Banh Mi Cali have averaged around six violations per visit, down from roughly 12 earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Banh Mi Cali means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
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