Restaurant Shut Down After ‘Very Disturbing’ Video Shows Worker Slamming Frozen Ribs on Dirty Ground
A California pho restaurant faces a temporary closure after a troubling video went viral, showing disturbing food-handling practices. The footage captured an employee repeatedly throwing frozen beef ribs onto the ground behind Pho Love in Milpitas. The video gained millions of views, prompting swift action from health officials and widespread online outrage over sanitation concerns at the popular Vietnamese eatery.
The Disturbing Video That Shattered the Internet
The video, filmed from a nearby rooftop, shows an employee slamming raw beef onto concrete behind the restaurant. The worker repeatedly threw frozen short ribs onto cardboard boxes, which often missed, causing the meat to skid into puddles of murky liquid. Trash, mop buckets, and refuse water surrounded the area where this occurred, creating alarming sanitary conditions.
How the Video Spread Across Social Media
TikTok user @sergiogarcia9100 posted the video, which quickly spread across multiple platforms. The video currently has 4.9 million views on TikTok alone. Reddit users began sharing the footage, sparking heated discussions about food safety and restaurant practices. The rapid viral spread transformed a single incident into a nationwide conversation about restaurant hygiene standards.
Reddit Detective Identifies the Restaurant
A self-described hobbyist geoguesser on Reddit identified the restaurant’s location by analyzing details in the video. The investigator studied the building’s features, including a beige light fixture and a downspout visible in the footage. They compared these details with Google Maps images of Vietnamese restaurants in East San Jose, successfully identifying Pho Love and promptly reporting it to health authorities.
Employee’s Explanation Raises More Questions
The employee told a county health inspector they were trying to thaw the meat outside because there wasn’t space on the food preparation counter. The worker claimed it was a one-time occurrence and said the contaminated meat was immediately discarded. However, this explanation only raised further concerns about proper food safety training and kitchen space management at the establishment.
Witness Describes Disturbing Scene
Felicia Floresca, identified as an employee who recorded the video, expressed shock at what she witnessed. “It was very disturbing. And they call it love. You call it Pho Love. I said no,” Floresca stated. Her account highlighted the concern that someone working inside the restaurant felt compelled to document and expose these practices to protect public health and safety.
Health Officials Respond Within Hours
Within hours of the Reddit report, a health inspector arrived at Pho Love on Thursday, November 20. The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health conducted a thorough investigation. The inspector spent more than three hours inside the restaurant, examining food handling practices, staff training records, and overall facility conditions before making their final determination.
Shocking Additional Violations Discovered
Beyond the meat-handling incident, inspectors uncovered serious health code violations inside the restaurant. A live German cockroach was found between the gaskets of a cooler during the inspection. The facility also lacked proper sanitizing equipment. The restaurant currently lacks any sanitizer available for use, inspectors reported, revealing systemic issues beyond the viral video incident.
Restaurant’s Health Inspection History
Public records show Pho Love passed its last three public health inspections with acceptable scores. The most recent inspection occurred approximately two months before the viral video incident. This history makes the discovery of cockroaches and inadequate sanitization particularly concerning, suggesting conditions may have deteriorated rapidly or problems went undetected during previous inspections despite standard protocols.
Owner Claims Sabotage and Conspiracy
Owner Uyen Tran alleged on Yelp that it was a deliberate act by a former employee and an accomplice designed to damage the restaurant’s reputation. “We never instructed this employee to work this way. We will have the police investigate this matter,” Tran wrote in response to negative reviews flooding the platform after the video circulated online.
Police Investigation Finds No Criminal Activity
The Milpitas Police Department said it’s aware of the video, but there does not appear to be any criminal conduct to investigate. While the owner requested police involvement, authorities determined the matter fell under health code violations rather than criminal law. This leaves the resolution primarily in the hands of county health officials and the restaurant’s compliance with corrective measures.
Restaurant Posts Closure Notice
A sign on the restaurant’s door said it was closed due to an issue involving one of our employees. The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health also posted official closure notices. The closure notice was dated Thursday, Nov. 20. Before disabling its Instagram account, the restaurant acknowledged awareness of the concerning video and promised cooperation with the investigation.
Internet Reacts With Outrage and Accusations
Social media erupted with reactions to the video. One X user alleged: “That’s the owner and they been doing this for years,” suggesting systemic problems. Reddit users praised health officials’ swift action while questioning why other staff members didn’t intervene. Many commenters expressed concern that someone handling food so carelessly should not be in the restaurant business at all.
Review-Bombing Overwhelms Restaurant’s Online Presence
The Vietnamese restaurant’s Yelp page has an unusual activity alert, and the ability to post new reviews has been temporarily disabled. Hundreds of one-star reviews flooded the platform, all referencing the viral video. The restaurant’s previously positive reputation, with three and a half stars on Yelp, was quickly overshadowed by the scandal’s immediate impact on public perception.
Nearby Residents Change Dining Plans
Local resident Kim Vera shared her reaction after seeing the video. “I had just told my boyfriend the other day, let’s go because it smells good. I saw the video and he sent it to me too,” Vera explained. She immediately canceled plans to try the restaurant, questioning how such unsanitary conditions could exist and expressing doubt about ever dining there.
Health Director Outlines Path to Reopening
Environmental Health Director Dr. Marilyn C. Underwood issued detailed requirements for reopening. Pho Love will remain closed until the business can correct the major violations and demonstrate acceptable food handling practices. The restaurant must remain closed until all major violations have been corrected, which must occur no later than Dec. 4, according to inspection reports.
Restaurant Cleared to Reopen After Reinspection
On Tuesday, the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health cleared Pho Love to reopen after the establishment passed a follow-up health inspection. The restaurant successfully addressed the major violations identified during the initial investigation. County officials confirmed the establishment demonstrated improved food handling practices and corrected sanitation issues before lifting the temporary suspension of its health permit.
Owner Vows to Rebuild Trust
The restaurant owner, described as a military veteran, acknowledged the severity of the situation and accepted full responsibility. He stated that rebuilding the restaurant’s reputation would be his top priority. The owner recognized the challenging task ahead, expressing determination to earn back customers’ trust through improved practices and transparency about the changes implemented following the incident.
Similar Incidents Highlight Industry-Wide Concerns
In 2014, an employee of a San Francisco restaurant was captured on video slamming a large slab of raw beef on the sidewalk outside in a similar fashion. These recurring incidents raise questions about food safety training across the restaurant industry. Health officials encourage the public to report concerns when they witness practices that could pose risks to community health and safety.
Food Safety Transparency
The Pho Love incident demonstrates the power of social media accountability in protecting public health. While the restaurant has been cleared to reopen after addressing violations, the viral video serves as a reminder that proper food handling cannot be compromised. Whether the establishment can recover its reputation remains uncertain, but the swift response from health officials shows the system protecting consumers works when violations come to light.
