Darya Restaurant: Shut Down for Cockroach Infestation
1611 W Sunflower Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704
Immediately Closed — Permit Suspended
Darya Restaurant in Santa Ana didn't just fail an inspection. It was shut down on the spot for a cockroach infestation — and it's not the first time.
On April 9, 2026, inspectors found cockroach activity serious enough to immediately suspend the restaurant's health permit. The manager, M. Thomas, requested a reinspection the very next day. The result? Still closed. The cockroach infestation was ongoing.
An updated CLOSE seal was posted on the door.
What the Inspector Found
The April 10 reinspection documented:
- Cockroach infestation — The facility remains closed due to ongoing cockroach activity in the kitchen and food preparation areas
- Gaps and entry points everywhere — Holes around the front door frame, behind and under the soda machine, between base cove tiles and the wall, and around piping and electrical conduits throughout the kitchen
- Damaged ventilation — Exposed duct tape and insulation on ventilation tubes above the dry storage shelving
- Immediate permit suspension — Ordered closed under Sections 114405 and 114409 of the California Health and Safety Code
Compliance Hearing Scheduled
This isn't just a "fix it and reopen" situation. A formal compliance hearing has been scheduled where Darya's owners will need to present evidence for why their permit shouldn't be permanently modified, suspended, or revoked due to serious repeat violations.
That phrase — "serious repeat violations" — tells you this isn't an isolated incident. The health department has seen enough to escalate beyond a simple reinspection.
The Bottom Line
Getting shut down for cockroaches is bad. Getting reinspected the next day and still being shut down is worse. Having a compliance hearing scheduled to potentially revoke your permit is about as serious as it gets in the restaurant world.
The gaps the inspector documented — around doors, under machines, between tiles — are the highways cockroaches use to move through a facility. Until those are sealed and a licensed pest control company has verified elimination, this restaurant shouldn't be serving food to anyone.
If you're a regular at Darya, we'd recommend waiting well past the reinspection before going back. And when you do, check DirtyBite first.
View the official inspection report (PDF)
All data sourced from the Orange County Health Care Agency. This closure is a matter of public record.