Six Lexington County restaurants received a C, the lowest Food Grade given out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, during the month of November.

The restaurants are located in Lexington, West Columbia and Columbia.

Burnin 99 Korean BBQ Hotpot, located at 1150 Bower Pkwy. in Columbia, received a C (76%) on a routine inspection conducted Nov. 9.

The restaurant was able to increase to an A (100%) on a follow-up conducted Nov. 17.

The Nov. 9 report noted improper food separation, with raw shell eggs being stored over ready-to-eat foods, a dish machine not properly sanitizing, improper cold holding temperatures and date marking systems, AND spray bottles with chemicals stored inside and not properly labeled.

Also noted was the facility making homemade kimchi without the proper variance, with management informing the inspector that they ferment the kimchi in the fridge for one day and a 40-gallon storage tub of kimchi is good for three weeks but used within one.

The inspector also observed food and sauces stored directly in Lowe’s buckets not approved for food storage, external temperature gauges on washing machine not working, and overicing in the walk-in freezer.

There were no violations noted in the Nov. 17 report.

Hudson’s Smokehouse #2, located at 931 Two Notch Rd. in Lexington (listed as the home of Hudson’s Classic Catering) received a B (82%) on a routine inspection conducted Nov. 8. The restaurant was downgraded to a C (92%) after a follow-up conducted Nov. 15.

The restaurant was able to increase to an A (100%) on a follow-up conducted Nov. 21.

The Nov. 8 report noted an employee handling ready-to-eat fruits with bare hands, improper cooling time and temperature, improper hot holding temperature, cooked/chilled items in the back of the walk-in-cooler that weren’t properly labeled, and a white powdery substance stored in an unlabeled container on a table near drink items.

The Noc. 15 report noted an improper date marking system, a repeated violation of cooked/chilled items not being properly labeled, and a consecutive violation of lighting directly over food prep areas not being properly shielded.

There were no violations noted on the Nov. 21 report.

Super Mercado La Union, located at 2361 Augusta Hwy. in Lexington, received a C (76%) on a routine inspection conducted Oct. 31, the restaurant remained at a C (97%) after a follow-up conducted Nov. 9. 

The restaurant was able to increase to an A (100%) after a follow-up conducted Nov. 16.

The Oct. 31 report noted a hand-sink filled with pans and without paper towels and observed garlic with a white fuzzy substance on top. The report also notes that beans cooked the previous day were sitting on the floor and not properly cooled, chemicals were stored with clean dishes and there were ceviche with raw shrimp without a consumer advisory.

The Nov. 9 report only noted improper cold holding temperatures, a consecutive violation.

There were no violations noted on the Nov. 16 report.

Persis Biryani Grill, located at 1728 Bush River Rd. in Columbia, received a C (71%) on a routine inspection conducted Nov. 9.

The restaurant was able to increase to an A (95%) on a follow-up conducted Nov. 16.

The Nov. 9 report noted employees eating in prep areas of the kitchen, employees eating with gloves and then handling food items, and employees changing gloves without proper handwashing in between glove changes..

The report also notes that the dish machine had no cleaning solution after running the machine three times and observed label residue on dishes stored as clean. The inspector also noted that the back door in the kitchen was propped open, allowing pests to enter the kitchen along with fruit flies and fly activity throughout the facility.

The Nov. 16 report noted overicing in walk-in-freezer, water leaking from the faucet at a three-compartment sink, low grout in floor tiles throughout the kitchen, rusted shelving in walk-in cooler and stained walls in the kitchen.

Burrito Express, located at 295 Glenn Rd. in West Columbia, received a C (76%) on a routine inspection conducted Nov. 27.

The restaurant was able to improve to an A (93%) on a follow-up inspection conducted Dec. 6.

The Nov. 27 report notes employees switching between tasks without hand washing and an employee cracking an egg with no hand wash and glove change before plating.

The report also noted an improper food marking system, improper hot holding temperatures, household pesticides being stored throughout the facility, and “live and dead insects throughout cabinets in kitchen as well as customer self service area.”

The Dec. 6 report noted consecutive violations for lack of proper certification, improper date marking and disposal and another violation for “bread products stored directly in contact with garbage bags.”

Riveras Supermercado, located at 1618 Airport Blvd. in West Columbia, received a C (77%) on a routine inspection conducted Nov. 30

The Nov. 30 report noted a hand sink in the dish area not having a handle for hot water, a hand sink near a meat display that didn’t have paper towels, and improper food separation.

The report also noted coconuts with green fuzz, cut meat with black spots, clean dishes stored in crates, dishes stacked on floor as clean. It also observed dishes being washed, rinsed, but not sanitized before storing for use and bags of frozen meat stored on the floor of walk-in-freezer.

The inspector also observed the women’s bathroom door not self-closing, “pitting, holes, and pooling liquids (water, blood from meat) throughout dish area, meat prep area, and storage areas throughout.” Also noted were broken tiles in the back storage area and black build-up on walls and ceilings in the dish room.

As of Dec. 6, no other follow-up reports for the restaurant had been posted to DHEC’s online database. The Nov. 30 report noted that another follow-up inspection was required within 10 days.