Three restaurants inside one of Downtown Los Angeles’ most popular food destinations were temporarily shut down after county health inspectors cited them for health code violations related to vermin infestations. Officials said the businesses have since addressed the issues and passed follow-up inspections, allowing them to reopen.
Three Grand Central Market Vendors Ordered to Close
The temporary closures affected Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria, Shiku, and McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, all located inside Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles.
According to records from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, inspectors ordered the restaurants to close after discovering evidence of vermin infestations, which can include rodents, insects, or birds in food preparation or dining areas.
Each business received an 11-point deduction during its health inspection due to the violations.
Inspection Timeline
Health department records show the following closure dates:
- McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams was closed on July 14 and reopened on July 17 after correcting the violations.
- Shiku was ordered closed on July 14.
- Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria was closed on July 16.
Although official county records had not immediately listed reopening dates for every business, Grand Central Market management said all three establishments successfully passed reinspection shortly after the closures.
Market Says Restaurants Passed Reinspection Quickly
A spokesperson for Grand Central Market told KTLA that each of the affected vendors passed county reinspections within 48 hours of receiving notice from health inspectors.
The spokesperson also emphasized that no other vendors inside the market were impacted by the health violations.
According to the market, pest prevention measures are already in place throughout the historic facility.
“As a historic, open-air market with independent food vendors, Grand Central Market and our tenants maintain a proactive pest management program with a licensed provider, including routine preventative service multiple times each week,” the market said in a statement.
Historic Los Angeles Landmark
Grand Central Market has been a fixture in downtown Los Angeles since 1917. Located inside the historic Homer Laughlin Building, the market features dozens of independently operated food vendors serving a wide variety of cuisines and attracts both residents and tourists throughout the year.
Because the market houses many separate businesses under one roof, each vendor is individually responsible for complying with county health regulations.
Health Closures Are Common
County officials noted that restaurant closures for health violations occur regularly throughout Los Angeles County.
Every month, dozens of restaurants, grocery stores, cafés, and food markets are temporarily shut down for violations ranging from vermin infestations to sewage problems and sanitation failures. Most establishments correct the violations quickly and reopen within a few days after passing a reinspection.
Other Restaurants Closed Across Los Angeles County in July
Since early July, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has ordered numerous food businesses to close temporarily for various health code violations.
Many closures were linked to vermin infestations, while others involved:
- Sewage discharge
- Lack of hot water
- Unsanitary food-contact surfaces
- Inspection scores below 70
- Inadequate cleaning and sanitizing equipment
Among the businesses temporarily closed were:
- 101 Asian Kitchen Inc. (Los Angeles)
- Amour WeHo (West Hollywood)
- Awakening Coffee Remote Storage (Inglewood)
- Beverages & More #113 (Torrance)
- Bob’s Burgers (La Puente)
- Captain Kidd’s Fish Market (Redondo Beach)
- China Food Express #1 (Los Angeles)
- Chop Asian Kitchen (East Los Angeles)
- Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill (Los Angeles)
- Darling Donuts (Los Angeles)
- Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet (Cerritos)
- Doublz (Montebello)
- El Patio Mexican Grill (Montebello)
- Great Wall Supermarket (Rosemead)
- Haruka Sake and Sushi (Pasadena)
- HiFi Kitchen (Los Angeles)
- Hong Kong Express (Gardena)
- Juanita’s Drive-In (Pomona)
- La Mexicana Meat Market (Los Angeles)
- Laurent Cafe (Los Angeles)
- Phovorite (Culver City)
- Rainbow Donuts (Norwalk)
- Reina’s Restaurant (Los Angeles)
- Rosti Tuscan Kitchen (Santa Monica)
- Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant (Rosemead)
- Shanghai Yau Fat Restaurant (Alhambra)
- Sisters Dumpling (Los Angeles)
- Taquería La Naranja (Los Ángeles)
- Yi Fang (Torrance)
- Yummi Chinese Fast Food (El Monte)
- Yup Dduk LA (Los Angeles)
- Zamora Bros (Los Angeles)
Several of these businesses have already reopened after correcting the cited violations, while others remained closed as of the latest health department records.
Health Department Continues Restaurant Inspections
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health conducts routine inspections throughout the county to ensure restaurants meet food safety standards. Establishments that fail inspections or present an immediate public health risk may be ordered to close until violations are corrected.
County officials say follow-up inspections are performed after operators address the identified issues, and businesses are permitted to reopen once they meet health and safety requirements.
