Cockroaches, Flies And Failed Dish Machines Cited At Arlington Eateries

ARLINGTON, VA — Dead cockroaches, mouse droppings, flying insects, dishwashing failures and improper food cooling were among the violations documented during recent Arlington County health inspections.

Public inspection reports show that 15 food establishments were cited for one or more violations between July 15 and July 20.

Inspection reports reflect conditions observed during each visit. Many violations were corrected before inspectors left, including food that was discarded, reheated or moved into working refrigeration.

Pest Evidence And Cleaning Issues

Z-Burger
509 23rd St. S., Arlington, VA 22202
Inspection date: July 16

The restaurant was operating without a certified food protection manager, according to the report. Inspectors also found cooked mushrooms at 125 degrees on a steam table. The mushrooms were reheated to 183 degrees. Precooked hot dogs were held at 51 degrees and moved into the walk-in cooler, while sliced tomatoes, provolone and cheddar were held at 46 degrees. The person in charge added ice and lowered the thermostat. Additional comments in the report said inspectors observed flies in the kitchen and “lots of dead American cockroaches” in the basement. The restaurant was told to close a gap beneath the rear exit door, contact its exterminator, service rodent bait stations and treat rat holes near the dumpster. Inspectors also directed the restaurant to store food at least 6 inches above the walk-in freezer floor and not leave excessive quantities of blanched fries at room temperature.

Maria Teresa’s Babies Early Enrichment Center
825 23rd St. S., Arlington, VA 22202
Inspection date: July 16

Inspectors found bowls and spoons stored in the kitchen handwashing sink, making it inaccessible for handwashing. Chlorine sanitizer tested at more than 200 parts per million. The person in charge adjusted it to 100 ppm during the inspection. Additional comments directed the facility to remove mouse droppings from the basement while using appropriate personal protective equipment.

Continental Beer Garden
1901 Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209
Inspection date: July 15

Inspectors found a soda-gun nozzle that needed cleaning and flying insects in the warewashing and bar areas. The establishment was directed to clean the nozzle and contact a pest-control company to reduce the flying-insect activity.

Chopt Creative Salad Co.
1735 N. Lynn St., Arlington, VA 22209
Inspection date: July 16

Flying insects were observed in the warewashing area, according to the report. The restaurant was directed to contact a pest-control company to minimize the activity.

Dishwashing And Sanitizer Failures

Cookology Culinary School
4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 3110, Arlington, VA 22203
Inspection date: July 15

No sanitizer was dispensing from the dish machine, and staff said the machine had no sanitizer available that could be installed. An employee set up the three-compartment sink with chlorine during the inspection so dishes could be sanitized manually. Inspectors also found béchamel sauce at 49 degrees and tuna at 50 degrees in a two-door cooler. The food was moved to the walk-in cooler, and inspectors directed staff not to store perishable food in the two-door unit until it could maintain food at 41 degrees or colder. Additional comments directed the facility to label bulk containers of flour and spices and keep food off the walk-in cooler floor.

McDonald’s
3013 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
Inspection date: July 15

The dish machine was not sanitizing and produced a reading of 0 ppm, according to the inspection report. Inspectors directed the restaurant to stop using the machine and manually wash, rinse and sanitize equipment until the machine was working properly.

Simply Banh Mi
801 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22203
Inspection date: July 16

Inspectors found containers and utensils blocking a handwashing sink. The dish machine also was not dispensing sanitizer. The person in charge was instructed to adjust or prime the machine during the inspection. Additional comments directed the restaurant to remove items from the mop sink, thoroughly clean the mop-sink and dish-machine areas, clean coolers and areas beneath equipment and reseal sinks to the wall. The restaurant was told to contact pest control if pest activity was discovered during cleaning.

Atlacatl Restaurant
4701 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
Inspection date: July 16

The chlorine dish machine produced a sanitizer reading below 50 ppm. A repair call was made, and staff were directed to sanitize dishes in the three-compartment sink until the machine was repaired. Inspectors also found cooked chicken, yuca, rice and shredded cheese without preparation or discard dates. The items were dated during the inspection.

Hilton Garden Inn Reagan National Airport — The Garden Grille & Bar
2020 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202
Inspection date: July 16

Raw chicken was stored above bread pudding, and raw shell eggs were stored above pasteurized liquid eggs. Inspectors also found that the high-temperature dish machine repeatedly failed to reach at least 160 degrees. Staff were directed to use the three-compartment sink until the machine was repaired. Packaged cream cheese was held at 68 degrees, diced tomatoes at 58 degrees, chorizo and diced ham at 61 degrees, and watermelon and cantaloupe at 54 degrees. The person in charge discarded the food. Chicken wings cooked June 25 had been kept for more than seven days and also were discarded.

Seki Sushi
480 11th St. S., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22202
Inspection date: July 15

A certified food protection manager was not present at the start of the inspection. Inspectors also found no paper towels at the handwashing sink near the dish machine, raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat food in the walk-in cooler and an employee washing utensils without sanitizing them afterward. Three lightbulbs also were missing from the ventilation hood.

Cooling, Storage And Food-Safety Controls

Lyon Hall
3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Inspection date: July 16

Raw shell eggs were stored above raw ground beef. Onions with bacon at 119 degrees, cheese sauce between 112 and 117 degrees and short-rib sauce at 108 degrees had not been reheated to at least 165 degrees within two hours. The person in charge discarded the foods. Mashed potatoes at 77 degrees had not cooled to 70 degrees or colder within two hours and also were discarded. Sausage and beurre blanc sauce were held at 49 degrees and moved into the walk-in refrigerator. Inspectors also found raw meat being vacuum-packaged without an approved variance. The restaurant was directed not to use both sauté-station preparation refrigerators until they were repaired.

Crystal City Restaurant
422 S. 23rd St., Arlington, VA 22202
Inspection date: July 16

The bar handwashing sink lacked soap, and paper towels at another bar handwashing sink were not individually dispensed. Inspectors also said the inside of the ice machine was not clean and directed the restaurant to drain the ice and wash, rinse and sanitize the machine. Potatoes cooked around 11:30 a.m. were found at 96 degrees on a shelf above the stove. The restaurant was directed to reheat them above 165 degrees and hold them at 135 degrees or hotter. Yellow rice that had been cooling for about an hour was found at 128 degrees in a covered plastic container more than 6 inches deep. Inspectors directed staff to place the rice in an uncovered steel pan no more than 4 inches deep and cool it under refrigeration or in an ice bath. Burgers could be ordered undercooked, but the menu did not contain the required consumer advisory. The inspector provided an allergen notice for the restaurant to post while a new menu was being prepared.

Superette
4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 102, Arlington, VA 22203
Inspection date: July 15

The establishment was operating without a certified food protection manager. The report also said staff discovered that a preparation unit had been left unplugged overnight. All foods requiring temperature control for safety were being voluntarily discarded.

Asahi Japanese Restaurant
2250 Clarendon Blvd., Suite G, Arlington, VA 22201
Inspection date: July 20

The kitchen handwashing sink had no soap, a violation corrected during the inspection. Inspectors also found prepared salad held at 50 degrees in a small reach-in refrigerator. The unit’s temperature was adjusted.

Deli Italiano
6505 29th St. N., Arlington, VA 22213
Inspection date: July 16

The unisex restroom did not have a sign reminding employees to wash their hands. The restaurant was directed to post a reminder at the sink.

About The Reports

Restaurant inspections are conducted by Arlington County public health officials to help ensure compliance with Virginia food safety regulations. Inspection reports reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection. Many violations are corrected before the inspection concludes and do not necessarily represent ongoing conditions.

This report includes only Arlington establishments inspected between July 15 and July 20, 2026, that were cited for one or more health code violations. Establishments with no violations and duplicate inspection reports were omitted.

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