WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors cited two restaurants for food safety and sanitation violations on October 19, 2026, including improper rice cooling and reheating at a West Chester restaurant and inadequate cleaning at a Phoenixville establishment, according to reports released by the Chester County Health Department.
Nine other food facilities were listed as in compliance during inspections conducted the same day.
Atexquita Mexican Restaurant — West Chester
Atexquita Mexican Restaurant, located at 505 E. Gay St., received multiple violations involving food temperatures, employee hygiene, food storage, and facility maintenance.
Inspectors found rice prepared the previous day at 50 degrees Fahrenheit in a walk-in cooler, above the required cooling temperature of 41 degrees. The rice had not been cooled within the prescribed time limits and was discarded during the inspection.
Inspectors also found rice that had not been reheated to the required 165 degrees before being placed in a steam table. Employees reheated the rice during the inspection.
An employee was observed eating food toppings while preparing orders and continuing to handle food without changing gloves. The employee was instructed to stop, wash their hands, and replace the gloves. Inspectors directed management to retrain staff.
Additional temperature violations involved pico de gallo, guacamole, ham, and chopped tomatoes held at 44 degrees outside the refrigerated wells of a food preparation unit. Inspectors instructed staff to use proper refrigeration or implement time controls.
Other findings included missing date markings on prepared foods, unlabeled squeeze bottles, and deteriorated wall surfaces requiring repair.
Inspectors also identified missing sanitizer test strips, a lack of paper towels at kitchen and restroom handwashing sinks, and insufficient hot water at a handwashing sink.
The hot water heater had been shut off because of a carbon monoxide concern and inspection, according to the report. After the heater was activated, water temperature increased from 79 degrees to 115 degrees. Inspectors directed the establishment to have the heater inspected and maintain adequate hot water.
Paper towels were supplied during the inspection.
The restaurant was also instructed to obtain a Chester County certified food manager certificate within five days for an employee who already held a valid ServSafe certificate.
Wasko’s — Phoenixville
Wasko’s, located at 223 Gay St., was cited for cleaning and maintenance violations involving food preparation surfaces, equipment, and storage areas.
Inspectors directed the restaurant to clean food preparation counters, cutting boards, shelving, steam table container lids, the oven top, and the interior ledge of a refrigerated preparation unit.
The report also identified unclean floor edges beneath cooking equipment and in the back preparation area, along with rugs requiring cleaning.
Inspectors ordered the removal of netting from shelves so that storage surfaces would be smooth, nonporous, and easily cleanable.
Chemical containers were also found without identifying labels, prompting instructions to label them.
Facilities Listed as In Compliance
The Chester County Health Department listed the following nine establishments as in compliance on October 19:
- Alabaster Catering LLC @ Trinity Assembly of God — 1022 Pottstown Pike, West Chester
- Baptist Church of West Chester — 221 S. High St., West Chester
- Calvary Lutheran Church — 730 S. New St., West Chester
- CVS Pharmacy #10399 / Sadsbury — 3373 E. Lincoln Highway, Parkesburg
- CVS Pharmacy #5064 / East Whiteland — 335 Lancaster Ave., Frazer
- Holiday Inn Express Malvern / Frazer — 1 S. Morehall Road, Malvern
- Malvern Treatment Center — 940 King Road, Malvern
- Sabatino’s Pizza & Grille — 1316 West Chester Pike, West Chester
- Spring Mill Senior Living — 3000 Balfour Circle, Phoenixville
The Health Department cautions that inspection findings reflect conditions observed at a particular time and do not necessarily represent an establishment’s long-term sanitation or food safety performance.
Residents who observe unsanitary conditions can submit a confidential environmental health complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843.
Anyone who believes they became ill after eating at a food establishment should contact the Chester County Health Department at 610-344-6225 rather than using the online complaint form.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.