Manager says health department is unfairly targeting popular Mexican eatery

Customers said there’s no better place for authentic tacos than Las Palmas, but the Mexican grocery store and taco stand has been at odds with the Allegheny County Health Department, claiming they're being unfairly targeted.

Just feet away from where Las Palmas sells street tacos outside of its Oakland store, a large sign accuses the health department of racism in its enforcement of the health code.

"At this point we feel it's getting out of hand,” said Yanelisa Tome, a manager with Las Palmas, which also has locations in Brookline and Beechview.

In November, the Oakland location was shut down by the health department for unsanitary conditions including the presence of rats and roaches.

"We worked hard, day and night, to fix all of the problems that we had before,” Tome said.

The store eventually reopened, but was soon cited again for no having a thermometer in the cooler and having a crack in the wall. The store was forced to put a “consumer alert” on the door for a week, That’s when the owners became fed up and decided to give their side of the story as well.

In a statement to Channel 11, the health department said:

"The Food Safety Program of the Allegheny County Health Department enforces without regard to race, gender, nationality, etc. We look only at violations of the Food Code and respond accordingly based on those rules and regulations."

Tome said Las Palmas will do everything it can to be in compliance and stay open, but she feels their business is being targeted.

"We feel like it's not fair, it's getting out of hand. We feel like it's only against us. If you go to other businesses around there, it's not perfect. Everything is not perfect,” Tome said.

Las Palmas will have a second inspection within the next 10 days that could determine its fate in Oakland, though Tome said they will keep fighting to stay open.

Cox Media Group