Dozens of LA County Restaurants Shuttered for Vermin, Sewage, Sanitation Violations

Inspectors from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health shuttered dozens of restaurants, markets, and food-service sites across the county between early February and mid-March 2026, citing vermin infestations, sewage leaks, and facilities operating without any working method to clean or sanitize surfaces.

The closures stretched from Canoga Park to Montebello, hitting independent eateries, national chains, and convenience stores alike. Denny's at 530 Ramirez St. in Los Angeles was closed February 6 for vermin infestation and cleared to reopen by February 11. Ara's Shawarma on Sunset Blvd. turned around faster, shutting February 17 and reopening just two days later. Crave Cafe on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City was closed March 4 and back open by March 6.

Not every operator moved that quickly. ANS Liquor & Mini Market on West Pico Blvd., Eclipse on Pico Blvd. near downtown, Biryani Kabob House on West 3rd Street, and Arax in Montebello were all closed in late February or early March with no reopening date listed in county records as of this writing. A food-service site at 4737 E. Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles was closed March 11 carrying a double citation: vermin infestation and no method to clean or sanitize. That combination is particularly serious in a commercial kitchen, where sanitizer failure means cross-contamination risk compounds every other violation on the list.

Two CVS Pharmacy food operations were also caught in the sweep. The Pomona location on East Foothill Blvd. closed February 17 for vermin and reopened a week later. The La Verne location on Foothill Blvd. closed March 5 and was cleared March 9. A 7-Eleven at 1707 Indian Hill Blvd. was closed March 11; city and violation details were not fully listed in the county's public records.

Crescenta Valley High School's food-service operation at 2900 Community Ave. in La Crescenta was closed March 9, though no specific violation reason appeared in the county's posted records. Blackcraft Coffee appeared on the county's list without an address, closure reason, or reopening date in the publicly available data.

Vermin infestation, the most common citation across the list, is not just a permit problem. For the line cooks and prep staff who work those kitchens, it means working alongside rodent droppings and pest activity that health inspectors deemed severe enough to halt service entirely. Every closure also means lost shifts, reduced tip pools for front-of-house workers, and in some cases weeks of wages during remediation and reinspection.

The LA County Department of Public Health posts closure information publicly as inspections are completed. The full February-March 2026 list covers more facilities than appeared in the publicly available excerpt; the county's complete records should be treated as the authoritative source for current closure and reopening status.