San Diego Restaurants Closures & Downgrades This Week (February 20 - 26) Due To County Health Department Inspections

This is the weekly list of San Diego County restaurants and food facilities that have faced temporary closures and downgraded status due to health inspections from February 20 - 26, 2026.

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality performs thousands of inspections annually to ensure that food establishments adhere to necessary safety standards. When inspectors identify critical violations, they issue closure notices, mandating that businesses resolve the issues before they can reopen, as well as reduce the health grade of some establishments.

Below, we outline the recent week's closures and downgrades and the specific violation list for each as reported by the health inspectors.

CLOSURES:

Aroi Thai Carlsbad (3050 Pio Pico Dr, Suite B, Carlsbad, CA 92008) - Ordered closed on February 20 for Food Handler Training - Minor; Proper Handwashing Facilities - Minor; Vermin - Major; Food Storage - Out of Compliance; Equipment and Utensil Storage, Use - Out of Compliance; Equipment, Utensils, Linens Storage and Use - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

Famous Wok Joa Group LLC (4211 Camino De La Plaza, San Ysidro, CA 92173) - Ordered closed upon reinspection on February 20 (originally closed on February 18) for Food in Good Condition, Safe and Unadulterated - Major and Vermin - Major.

Al Chile (4211 Camino De La Plaza, Suite 158C, San Ysidro, CA 92173) - Ordered closed upon reinspection on February 20 (originally closed on February 19) for Vermin - Major.

El Paisa (2494 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92102) - Ordered closed on February 23 for Holding Temperatures - Minor; Food Contact Surfaces - Minor; Sewage disposal - Major; Vermin - Minor; Food Separated and Protected - Out of Compliance; Food Storage - Out of Compliance; Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

Margaritas Restaurant (4955 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107) - Ordered closed on February 23 for Holding Temperatures - Minor; Vermin - Major; Nonfood Contact Surfaces Clean - Out of Compliance; Equipment and Utensil Storage, Use - Out of Compliance; Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

Sang Dao Restaurant (5421 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115) - Ordered closed upon reinspection on February 23 (originally closed on February 13) for Vermin - Major.

Golden Mandarin One (45 Broadway, Suite E, Chula Vista, CA 91910) - Ordered closed on February 23 for Food Contact Surfaces - Minor; Vermin - Major; Food Storage - Out of Compliance; Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

Harborside Cuisine (110 47th St, San Diego, CA 92102) - Ordered closed on February 24 for Proper Cooling - Major; Food in Good Condition, Safe and Unadulterated - Minor; Vermin - Major; Thawing Methods - Out of Compliance; Food Separated and Protected - Out of Compliance; Storage of Toxic Substances - Out of Compliance; Nonfood Contact Surfaces Clean - Out of Compliance; Equipment, Utensils, Linens Storage and Use - Out of Compliance; Wiping Cloths - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

The Deli Stop (13173 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129) - Ordered closed on February 24 for Vermin - Major; Equipment and Utensil Storage, Use - Out of Compliance; and Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance. 

The Grounds Bean Bar (1571 La Playa Ave, San Diego, CA 92109) - Ordered closed on February 25 for Proper Handwashing Facilities - Minor; Food Contact Surfaces - Minor; Vermin - Major; Nonfood Contact Surfaces Clean - Out of Compliance; Equipment and Utensil Storage, Use - Out of Compliance; Plumbing - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance. 

Neiman Marcus NM Café (7027 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108) - Ordered closed on February 25 for Food Safety Certification - Minor; Vermin - Major; and Food Storage - Out of Compliance.

Pop Pie Co & Stella Jeans Ice Cream (829 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109) - Ordered closed on February 25 for Food Contact Surfaces - Minor; Vermin - Major; Warewashing Facilities Maintained - Out of Compliance; and Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance.

Ahan Lao (212 Broadway, Suite 1, Chula Vista, CA 91910) - Ordered closed on February 25 for Proper Handwashing Facilities - Minor; Vermin - Major; Storage of Toxic Substances - Out of Compliance; Food Storage - Out of Compliance; Equipment, Utensils, Linens Storage and Use - Out of Compliance; Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

Francos Flapjack Family Restaurant (14034 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064) - Ordered closed on February 25 for Sewage disposal - Major.

El Comal Restaurante (262 Third Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910) - Ordered closed on February 26 for Vermin - Major; Equipment and Utensil Storage, Use - Out of Compliance; Premises, Personal/Cleaning Items, Exclusion Measures - Out of Compliance; and Floors, Walls, and Ceilings - Out of Compliance.

DOWNGRADES:

No downgrades this week. 

If you're curious about more inspection results, including the current status of the above restaurants, you can find more details on the county's website at  sdfoodinfo.org  or request the full health report and any additional records by filing a  County of San Diego Public Records Request.

Additional San Diego County closure reports:
Originally published on February 20, 2026.