El Tomate, a Mexican restaurant on 24th Street in the Mission District, was abruptly shut down yesterday after health inspectors found a cockroach infestation and a list of kitchen equipment problems during a routine visit. The Department of Public Health slapped a closed placard on the front door and suspended the restaurant’s public health permit, meaning no food service until the problems are corrected. According to the inspection report, El Tomate has 15 days to hire a licensed pest-control company, repair or replace broken equipment and pass a reinspection in order to reopen.
The inspection report, conducted yesterday and posted online, describes live and dead cockroaches on the cook’s line and inside a cold-holding unit, several live roaches trapped below the oven and one live roach in the floor sink under the prep sink, according to MyHealthDepartment. Inspectors also documented dead cockroaches on the wall behind a standing cold-holding unit, food buildup inside the gaskets of the top cold-holding unit, broken gaskets and debris beneath a floor sink that made it harder to keep equipment clean. Coverage by WhatNow includes screenshots of the report and notes the closed placard was posted at 2904 24th St.
What the suspension means
Under the state retail-food code, local health officers can immediately suspend a public health permit and close a business when they find an imminent health hazard, such as a vermin infestation, as outlined in the Retail Food Inspection Guide. That kind of suspension typically requires professional pest treatment, a top-to-bottom cleaning and proof of equipment repairs before inspectors will clear the closed placard and allow a restaurant to reopen. Those steps are listed in the inspection report as conditions for passing the follow-up inspection.
Not an isolated problem in S.F.
San Francisco health inspectors have shut down other restaurants for similar pest issues in recent years; the San Francisco Chronicle reported a wave of closures in August 2025 after live roaches turned up in multiple kitchens. Many of those restaurants eventually reopened after hiring pest-control services and passing reinspections, although repeat violations can trigger longer suspensions or additional administrative penalties.
WhatNow reports it has reached out to El Tomate for comment, and the online inspection portal currently shows the closure notice at the Mission address. This story will be updated if the Department of Public Health posts reinspection results. Diners with concerns about recent visits can review the inspection record online or contact the Department of Public Health for further guidance.
