Taichi Restaurant: Someone Literally Called in a Rat Tip
5414 Walnut Ave Ste A, Irvine, CA 92604
The Complaint That Started It All
On April 9, 2026, the Orange County Health Care Agency received complaint #CO168165 with a blunt allegation: "Back door open. Rats in facility."
Inspectors conducted a routine inspection and complaint investigation simultaneously. What they found was 11 violations — one of the highest counts in Irvine this month.
What the Inspector Found
- Frozen pork thawing at room temperature on top of the ice machine
- Raw meats and raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler and front service cooler
- Unlabeled chemical spray bottle under the 3-compartment sink
- Scrambled eggs stored above the mop sink — an employee moved it when the inspector pointed it out
- No sanitizer test strips available
- Torn cooler gaskets on multiple units
- Back doors left open with the air curtain turned off — the exact condition described in the complaint
- Grime and debris accumulated under the cook's line, storage shelves, and throughout the facility
- A large wood stump under the food prep sink (unnecessary item)
The Back Door Problem
The complaint specifically mentioned the back door being left open. The inspector confirmed it: the back doors were open and the air curtain was disconnected. This is basically rolling out the welcome mat for pests. An air curtain creates a barrier of airflow that keeps flies and rodents from entering — with it off and the door open, anything can walk right in.
A reinspection is scheduled for on or after April 17, 2026.
The Bottom Line
Eleven violations is a lot for any restaurant, but the combination here is what concerns us most. Open back doors with no pest barrier, raw meat above ready-to-eat food, chemicals next to the wash station, and food stored above the mop sink — each one is a different way your meal could be compromised.
The rat complaint hasn't been confirmed or denied in the public record — the inspector documented the conditions that would allow pests in (open doors, no air curtain, gaps in walls) but the complaint investigation report is separate from the routine inspection.
We'll update this page after the April 17 reinspection.
All data sourced from the Orange County Health Care Agency. Inspection results are matters of public record.