Restaurant Roundup: Korean spot temporarily closed & popular taco shop fails inspection
Julia Donovan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A Korean restaurant was temporarily shut down after the health inspector reported handwashing violations and dirty dishware. A beloved mom-and-pop taco shop also failed its recent health inspection. But another local favorite – that often sees lines out the door – is this week’s high score.
Low scores:
An employee was caught preparing food without washing their hands, the inspector saw meat marinating in a dirty bowl, raw chicken and pork were at an unsafe temperature, and there were no dates on some food items.
We stopped by to find Yong’s Korean Kitchen back open after passing its re-inspection.
“We retrained our entire staff,” the restaurant manager, Don, told KRDO over the phone.
Don told us they’ve found ways to ensure the food is at a safe temperature, too.
“We switched that to a smaller portion in a metal container that should conduct the cold better,” he said.
Monica’s Taco Shop on S Nevada Avenue also failed its recent routine health inspection.
Monica’s wasn’t shut down, but it did face a dozen violations.
Some cooked food items were at unsafe temperatures; the inspector noted that the cooks were using unsafe cooling methods, and beans and lettuce were stored on the floor.
High scores:
We have a perfect score this week: Pizzeria Rustica on W Colorado Avenue!
And, we have two high scores to report:
Nova West – an arcade bar with some fun eats on W Colorado Avenue – and Omelette Parlor on E Fillmore Street!
“It’s not that we’re working, anticipating a health inspection – we want our customers safe,” the manager, Susan, told us.
Staying clean is even more impressive when you’re so busy. The place was packed when we stopped by on a random Wednesday morning!
“I think that we offer what people are looking for,” Susan said. “A good, reasonably priced meal with large portions.”
Like… pancakes-bigger-than-the-plate large.
It should be noted: even though the servings are big, the flavor does not waver!
Reminder: all of our high and low-scoring restaurants are based on routine health inspections conducted by the El Paso County Health Department.
Click here for a look at all the most recent health inspection scores.