This restaurant found to have illegally underpaid workers — and roaches in the oven
Running roaches and a toothbrush used as a basting brush highlighted the last round of state inspections for an Orlando Thai restaurant found to have shorted workers on overtime pay by the Department of Labor.
The Chai Thai Cuisine at 13747 S. John Young Pkwy. is one of the two places owned by Hong Saeunong that Wage and Hour Division investigators found owed $27,000 in back pay to 17 employees after committing federal overtime pay violations.
But Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspector found a few other things in a July 5, 2019 visit. Here are some of the 19 total violations, five of which were High Priority:
▪ One live roach on a dry storage shelf, three live roaches that a manager killed during the inspection and 12 other dead roaches, including two inside an oven.
▪ “Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine.”
▪ “Observed cook touch dirty dishes then clean (dishes) without washing hands.”
▪ “Nonfood-grade basting brush used in food, tooth brush used as basting brush.” The inspector wrote “I showed her a picture of silicone food brush.”
▪ “Encrusted material on can opener blade.”
▪ “Cutting board(s) stained/soiled.”
▪ “Clean utensils or equipment stored in dirty pan, parts to food processor in dirty pan.”
▪ “Sides of wok station hood vents, fire suppression lines in hood dripping with grease, inside oven.”
Chai Thai was closed until it passed a re-inspection the following day.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 1:21 PM.
