Behind the Kitchen Door: Rodent droppings, improper food cooling lead to low score for Shop-N-Save convenience store

Inspector watched worker smash bug with hand, continue prepping food at Golden Wok

SAN ANTONIO – Rodent droppings inside a convenience store, improper cooling procedures and several more violations all added up to a low score for the business.

Shop-N-Save

Shop-N-Save, located in the 1300 block of North Trinity, earned a low score of 72 on its January inspection.

The inspector found food in a cooler temped “between 107 and 138 degrees.” An employee told the inspector the “food had already been cooling for 4 hours” before it went into the cooler. The inspector reminded the worker “food must be cooled to 41 degrees within 6 hours” of being made.

Meanwhile, eggs were “left out at room temperature for an unknown time” during a shift change, and frozen chicken was left improperly thawing in a sink at room temperature.

There was a leak at a sink that was causing water to pool in a 10-foot area along a wall.

The inspector also found “rodent droppings.” The business had just had a pest control treatment the day before the inspection, but not for rodents, “just roaches and ants.”

The inspector ordered a re-inspection and told the business to perform a deep cleaning, repair the leak and treat for rodents.

Golden Wok

Golden Wok, located in the 1400 block of Southwest Loop 410, earned a 76.

The inspector found a “moldy like eggplant in the cold hold unit.” The eggplant and all the other food in the same bin were tossed out.

There was “black and yellow mold-like build up in the ice machine,” and cleaning chemicals were stored directly above soaked mushrooms in a bucket on the floor below.

The inspector also observed an “employee crush a silver fish bug” with their hands and then “continue to prep raw chicken with the same gloves on.”

The inspector stepped in and told the worker to wash their hands and change their gloves.

Another live silverfish bug was found on a food sauce bucket on the prep table.

The entire kitchen area also needed a thorough cleaning and organization.

A follow-up inspection was required three days later to ensure all issues were addressed.


Score Guide:

  • 100-90 = A (Very Good to Acceptable)
  • 89-80 = B (Acceptable to Marginal)
  • 79 or lower = C (Marginal to Poor)
  • *Metro Health indicates that scores of 69 or lower are failing scores

Other scores from this week of inspections:

Alvarez House, 100

605 Augusta St

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Big Hops Growler Station, 100

11224 Huebner Rd

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Bill Miller BBQ, 100

620 Division

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Circle K, 100

3411 Thousand Oaks

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La Fondita Del Sabor, 100

9804 Roosevelt Ave

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Buffalo Wild Wings, 99

5411 W FM 1604 N

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Lucky Noodle House, 98

8525 Blanco Rd

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India Taj Palace, 97

20323 Huebner Rd

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Mi Celayense Mexican Restaurant, 96

2907 Fredericksburg Rd

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Hot Joy, 95

1014 S. Alamo St

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Rey Taqueria Jalisco, 94

3822 Fredericksburg Rd

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Red Lobster, 93

1381 SW Loop 410

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Regal Pantry, 92

6447 Camp Bullis Rd

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Taqueria Datapoint, 91

1702 W. Gramercy Pl

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Tortilleria Valeria, 90

1650 W. Woodlawn


Want to know who has good scores and who doesn’t? KSAT 12 has a new tool for that.

Just click this link, and it will take you to a new mapping tool we have showing the recent scores for San Antonio food businesses.

The reports go back six months and are frequently updated.

You can catch Tim’s BKD reports Thursdays on the Nightbeat.

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Behind the Kitchen Door image. (KSAT)

About the Authors:

Dale Keller is senior news photographer at KSAT-12.