Jitlada temporarily closed by inspectors

Jitlada, a long-running Thai restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, was temporarily shut by Los Angeles County health inspectors on April 30 after a county inspection cited a vermin infestation. KTLA reported on May 13 that the restaurant had already reopened on May 2 after managers addressed the problems. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health lists closure records for active food facilities online, including recent temporary shutdowns tied to vermin and other violations. ### When was Jitlada closed, and for what reason? April 30 is the date KTLA said Jitlada was ordered to close, citing Los Angeles County health department records. The station reported the closure reason as a “vermin infestation,” and said the restaurant reopened two days later, on May 2, after the issues were resolved. Los Angeles County’s public health site says closure listings cover active restaurants, food markets and pool facilities over the last 100 days. (ktla.com) The county also says inspection histories for active facilities can be searched for the last five years. ### Where is the restaurant, and why is it notable? Jitlada is on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Thai Town, according to KTLA. (ktla.com) The station described it as a long-standing Southern Thai restaurant and said it has been honored in the Michelin Guide. Chef Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong was nominated by the James Beard Foundation in the Best Chef: California category in 2022 and 2023, according to foundation records. (publichealth.lacounty.gov) Those nominations help explain why the closure drew wider attention beyond routine county inspection notices. ### Did the restaurant respond publicly? KTLA reported that Jitlada did not address the closure on social media. (ktla.com) The station said it sought comment by email and that the restaurant’s voice mail was not accepting messages as of Wednesday afternoon, May 13. No public statement from Jitlada or Chef Singsanong appeared in the materials reviewed for this article. (jamesbeard.org) That means the public account of the closure, for now, comes from county records and KTLA’s reporting. ### How common are these temporary shutdowns in Los Angeles County? KTLA said dozens of restaurants and markets in Los Angeles County are shut down each month for health code violations. (ktla.com) The station said the most common reasons include vermin infestation, plumbing problems and unsafe food handling. Los Angeles County’s health department maintains a public closures page that lets users review recent shutdowns and cited facilities. (ktla.com) The county says people seeking a copy of a restaurant or food market inspection report from inspections conducted on or after August 25, 2025, must submit a California Public Records Act request to the Custodian of Records. ### What happens after a closure like this? A temporary closure in Los Angeles County typically remains in place until the operator corrects the violations and the site is cleared to reopen. KTLA reported that Jitlada’s managers “quickly resolved” the issues and that the restaurant reopened on May 2. The county’s public health page directs readers to its inspection results and closures tabs for follow-up. (publichealth.lacounty.gov) For records beyond the online listing, the next step is a formal records request to the department’s Custodian of Records, which the county says will respond within 10 days of receipt. (ktla.com)