Ratones found at several eateries at MainPlace Mall’s food court

There are still a few cultures in the world that enjoy eating rodents. For example guinea pigs are a delicacy in Peru, where many people eat them as their birthday meal. And hillbillies here in the U.S. still like to dig into squirrel stew. But for the most part, here in the U.S., Americans do not like the thought of mice in the kitchen, despite Pixar’s popular Ratatouille movie.

With that in mind, a recent inspection by the O.C. Health Care Agency, at the MainPlace Mall, which was recently sold, turned up rodent infestations at several of the food court eateries, according to the O.C. Register.

Here are the eateries that got busted:

• Subway at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana; rodent infestation; permit suspended March 2, reinstated March 2.
• Sbarro at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana; rodent infestation; permit suspended March 1, reinstated March 1.
• Fresh Healthy Cafe at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St, Santa Ana; rodent infestation and operating without a valid health permit; closed March 1. (LOL! Not so fresh and healthy…)
• Baja Fresh Mexican Grill at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana; rodent infestation; permit suspended Feb. 29, reinstated Feb. 29.

Two other local eateries also got inspected and the results were no bueno:

• Cafe Lu, 634-636 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana; operating without a valid health permit; closed March 1, reopened March 1.
• Mexicanismo, 2323 W. 1st St., Santa Ana; cockroach infestation; permit suspended March 1.

This is why we really need letter health grade ratings in Orange County! Remember that Supervisor Janet Nguyen, several years ago, was the key vote against letter health grade ratings. She did not admit at the time that her husband, Tom Bonikowski, and her then Chief of Staff, Andrew Do, co-owned a filthy Lee’s Sandwiches in Stanton, that had accrued a terrible health record. Nguyen also had collected at that time over $20K in campaign donations from troubled eateries and bars. Nguyen is now a State Senator and Do is our County Supervisor in the First District.

So will you still eat at these eateries at the MainPlace Mall?

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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