It wasn’t a happy holiday season for these six Jefferson County establishments.

But it was a holly jolly Christmas for cockroaches, both dead and alive, at a Thai joint in Hoover that received the county health department’s lowest inspection score during December.

In all, six restaurants received inspection scores of 84 or below — which trigger a health department reinspection within 60 days.

Below are the worst scores for December from highest to lowest:

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 2300 Woodcrest Pl., Birmingham

Score: 84

Critical violations: 3

Ruth’s Chris had 9 points deducted from its score from three critical violations after a Dec. 28 visit from the Jefferson County Health Department.

The steakhouse was cited for a French fry cutter “with visible old food particles stuck to” it.

There was also no soap in the dish machine.

Meanwhile, cut lemons, cheese sauce and cut leafy greens were not date marked.

M&G Food Market, 2651 Green Springs Hwy., Birmingham

Score: 82

Critical violations: 3

This convenience store connected to a Chevron on Green Springs Highway lost 12 points from critical violations after a Dec. 14 inspection.

Among M&G Food Market’s most serious infractions included not using appropriate chemical test kits to measure the concentration of sanitizing solution and for its handwashing sinks not being hot enough.

Jack’s Family Restaurant, 2575 Morgan Rd., Bessemer

Score: 81

Critical violations: 2

Jack’s on Morgan Road in Bessemer lost 10 points just from critical violations after the health department visited on Dec. 5.

The fast food joint was cited for dirty equipment stored ready for use on a shelf above a sink and food such as breakfast sausage and sausage links stored at inappropriate temperatures.

King Buffet, 7873 Crestwood Blvd., Birmingham

Score: 78

Critical violations: 3

King Buffet lost 12 points from critical violations after a Dec. 5 inspection.

It was cited for not labeling toxic items in original containers, including an unknown chemical in a Windex bottle and degreaser in an unlabeled spray bottle.

The restaurant was also dinged for using a handwashing sink to store a sanitizing bucket and utensils placed in the hand sink at the Mongolian bar.

King Buffet also stored eggs and tomatoes at inappropriate temperatures.

Fairfield Seafood, 3710 Lloyd Noland Pkwy., Fairfield

Score: 78

Critical violations: 4

Fairfield Seafood had 18 points deducted from its score due to critical violations allowing following a Dec. 4 inspection.

The inspector observed “several live roaches crawling in containers of rice grains.”

The seafood joint’s staff was storing their cell phones in a handwashing sink and using a second hand sink to store a container of seasoning, according to the restaurant’s inspection report.

Taste of Thailand, 3321 Lorna Rd., Hoover

Score: 64

Critical violations: 5

Taste of Thailand in Hoover had both the lowest score of any Jefferson County restaurant inspected in December and the most critical violations of any establishment with a sub-85 score.

During a Dec. 27 inspection, a county health department employee observed an “accumulation of German cockroaches on the wall and countertop sushi bar area,” according to the inspector’s notes.

“Cease operations in sushi bar area until approved for operations” by the health department, the report states.

It wasn’t the only cockroach-related infraction incurred by Taste of Thailand’s sushi bar.

The restaurant was also cited for violated a section of the county code requiring removal of dead insects.

“Dead German cockroaches and roach droppings on countertop and wall in sushi bar area,” the inspector wrote.