Three Hillsboro restaurants scored below 85 in Washington County's latest round of health inspections, with a downtown coffee shop posting the lowest mark at 71.
Chicatanas Coffee Shop at 159 S.E. Second Ave., Dhaba Indian Kitchen food cart at 2635 S.E. Century Blvd. and Elmer's at 2185 N.W. 185th Ave. all fell short of the 85-point threshold in late-August inspections, the Hillsboro News Times reported Oct. 23.
Washington County's public health department conducts unannounced, semiannual inspections of food service establishments. Restaurants must score at least 70 to pass. Inspectors assess violations across categories including priority items tied to foodborne illness risk and core items related to sanitation and maintenance.
Chicatanas Coffee Shop: 71
The downtown Hillsboro café, owned by Roberto Rubio, drew the most violations. Inspectors found the owner did not wash his hands after taking a phone call and began preparing food, then handled his phone again while actively preparing an order. He washed his hands after the inspector raised the issue.
Chili oil was not stored at the proper temperature, a repeat violation. Queso fresco and other items described as personal food were intermingled with customer food and not labeled. Salmon and steaks in unapproved reduced-oxygen packaging were also on site; the person in charge said they were personal items, and they were removed.
A grill the person in charge said was used to cook personal meat for himself and friends must be removed before the next inspection, according to the report.
Dhaba Indian Kitchen food cart: 78
The food cart on Century Boulevard had its handwashing sink blocked with containers and a strainer of cooked vegetables. The vegetables were discarded.
Inspectors found a pan of raw chicken sitting on the floor above the allowable temperature and an open container of half and half on the counter, also above the allowable temperature. The chicken was placed in the fridge and the half and half was discarded. Multiple surfaces, graters, cutters and peelers had food residue, a repeat violation. Ready-to-eat sauces, cooked vegetables and cooked chicken lacked date marks.
Dhaba Indian Kitchen has operated food trucks across Portland since 2015 under Sr. Chef Balbir Singh Gusai, according to the restaurant's website.
Elmer's: 82
The breakfast chain's Tanasbourne location had a handwashing sink blocked by a cutting board. Batter was not stored at the proper temperature and was moved to the cooler. Hand soap and chemical bottles were stored above paper towels and toilet paper, a repeat violation involving improper separation of toxic materials.
An inspector also observed a gap in the back door.
Elmer's, a Portland-headquartered chain founded in 1960, moved into the former Shari's location at 2185 N.W. 185th Ave. in 2025, the Hillsboro News Times reported at the time.
Perfect scores in Hillsboro
Five Hillsboro restaurants earned perfect 100s in the same inspection round: Burgerville at 2401 N.E. Cornell Road, Genghis Khan Grill at 2020 N.E. Cornell Road, K1Speed at 5579 N.E. Huffman St., Five Guys Burgers and Fries at 2343 N.W. 185th Ave. and Starbucks at 2002 N.W. Stucki Ave.
