Rafael's Mexican Restaurant
2226 W Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640
How the BiteKarma score works
Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.
At a glance
- Passed 4 of 4 graded inspections since 2023.
- Last inspected Mar 25, 2026: passed with 17 violations, 3 critical.
- Keeps coming up: Floors, walls and ceilings: properly built, maintained in good repair and clean, cited 3 times, plus 5 other repeat issues.
- #3 in Montebello's Hall of Shame, among the lowest BiteKarma scores in the city.
- 5 critical violations in the last two years.
Inspection history 4 visits
- 2026
- Passed Mar 25
Routine Inspection
17 violations, 3 critical
- Critical Hands clean and properly washed; proper glove use
- Critical Food-contact surfaces: clean and sanitized
- Critical Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
- Minor Impoundment/voluntary condemn and dispose (VC&D)/sampling
- Minor Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas, use
- Minor Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- Minor Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
- Minor Floors, walls and ceilings properly built, maintained and clean
- Minor No insects, rodents, birds or animals present
- Minor Thermometers provided and accurate
- Minor Equipment, utensils and linens: storage and use
- Minor Personal cleanliness and hair restraints
- Minor Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained; used; test equipment
- Minor Equipment/utensils approved: installed; good repair; capacity
- Minor Plumbing: fixtures, backflow device, drainage
- Minor Multiple major critical violations /increased risk to public health
- 2025
- Passed May 26
Owner Requested Reinspection
4 violations
- Minor Equipment/utensils - approved; installed; clean; good repair, capacity
- Minor Floors, walls and ceilings: properly built, maintained in good repair and clean
- Minor Plumbing: plumbing in good repair, proper backflow devices
- Minor Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas, use
- Passed May 4
Routine Inspection
11 violations, 2 critical
- Critical Food-contact surfaces: clean and sanitized
- Critical Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
- Minor Floors, walls and ceilings: properly built, maintained in good repair and clean
- Minor Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas, use
- Minor Multiple major critical violations /increased risk to public health
- Minor Adequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible
- Minor Food safety certification
- Minor Equipment/utensils - approved; installed; clean; good repair, capacity
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean and in good repair
- Minor Impoundment of unsanitary equipment or food
- Minor Plumbing: plumbing in good repair, proper backflow devices
- 2023
- Passed Nov 27
Routine Inspection
5 violations
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean and in good repair
- Minor Adequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible
- Minor Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas, use
- Minor Floors, walls and ceilings: properly built, maintained in good repair and clean
- Minor Plumbing: plumbing in good repair, proper backflow devices
Nearby
BiteKarma scores around Rafael's Mexican Restaurant, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.