South Bay restaurant cleared to reopen after viral video

The Milpitas restaurant PhoLove has received approval from Santa Clara County’s health department to reopen after it was temporarily closed due to health violations. The closure followed the circulation of a viral video that depicted an employee improperly handling frozen ribs.

The video attracted significant attention online, depicting the employee slamming slabs of ribs against cardboard on the floor, where the meat then made contact with a mop bucket. A Reddit user who identified the restaurant subsequently reported it to health authorities.

Health inspectors noted violations during a review, including a cockroach infestation and improper sanitation practices. The restaurant was ordered to close until these issues could be addressed and satisfactory food handling procedures implemented.

Initially, owner Uyen Tran suggested that the incident may have been an act of sabotage by a former employee, but investigations revealed that the action was unapproved and not a usual practice. The employee responsible for the incident, a dishwasher, is no longer employed at PhoLove.

A follow-up inspection conducted on Monday confirmed that the major health violations had been resolved, with the restaurant now able to properly sanitize its equipment and free from pest problems. An unannounced inspection will take place in the coming weeks.