Auckland's filthiest restaurants revealed by council
In Auckland Council's latest list of D grade food outlets, from last September to January this year, 41 shops received a D grade while two were forced to close temporarily after being issued E grades.
Breaches included poor cleaning and food safety preparation, hygiene and storage, deficient temperature controls, poor maintenance of equipment and facilities, and pests.
According to the council, a food grade certificate gives customers assurance that food they buy is safe and suitable to eat, and that the outlet meets quality and hygiene requirements under the Food Act.
An A, B or C grade means an outlet provides a level of confidence that the food it sells is safe.
D and E grades require enforcement by food inspectors, meaning a wide range of issues need to be rectified.
E ratings are given for critical risks, such as an out-of-control pest infestation or an absolutely filthy kitchen.
Central Auckland recorded the most D grade restaurants in the region with 13 shops identified with breaches, while south Auckland had 12.
Seven food shops in East Auckland were marked D grades, with five in the west, and four in the north.
Glen Innes Bakery and Cafe, Vanilla Plant Based Kitchen in Howick, Ak's Bakery in Mt Wellington, Dedwood Deli in Ponsonby, Manna Kitchen Onehunga, The Meat Hut in Massey, Gangnam Style Korean BBQ in Takapuna, Glen Eden Takeaways, 932 Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House, Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House and Hot and Spicy Pot East Tamaki all had pests.
Of the 41 shops that were issued with a D grade, 35 were reissued with A grades after rectifying breaches.
E grades were issued to United Coffee Nation on Victoria St West in Auckland Central, and Songket Malaysian Cafe at Kilham Ave, Northcote.
Both food outlets have been issued a D grade since, and allowed to operate.
South Auckland councillor Alf Filipina said customers deserved better, and eating at places that were clean was the bare minimum.
"The good thing about these inspections is that it's catching them out and taking them to task for not complying," Filipaina said.
"Once cockroaches or pests are identified, they're shut down and told to fumigate and prove that they can reopen again."
He said it was a shame that some owners have let their shops go.
"This is where people go to buy their food, and eat. The ones that are being shut down for cockroaches and pests, those are the ones that need to be highlighted.
"It's not just about the food, it's about cleanliness of the premises they walk into, customers expect that and its shop owners responsibility to make sure the cooking area is clean and around their shops too."
Food safety breaches don't incur fines, but the council recovers costs with reinspection revisits to monitor or confirm compliance.
The average compliance cost for an E grade reinspection was $1400, while it was up to $771 for a D grade.
List of D and E grade outlets from Sept 2023- Jan 2024
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Glen Innes Bakery and Cafe
Howick Village Cafe
Barilla Dumpling, Milford
Chowfoo Restaurant, Albany
Bakar Malaysian Cuisine, Panmure
Huanoa Takeaways, Papatoetoe
Moore St Bake House, Howick
Happy Days Restaurant, Manukau
Love Punjab Restaurant and Bar, Manurewa
Vanilla Plant Based Kitchen, Howick
Yummy Dumpling House, Queen St
Razeens Fastfoods and Takeaway, Māngere
Bread N Butter Home Cookery, Onehunga
Esquires Manukau
Korean Foods, Papatoetoe
Polynesian Takeaway, Avondale
Bamboo Gardens Takeaway, New Lynn
Golden Rooster Chinese Resturant, Rosedale
Burrito House, Birkenhead
Top World Bakery & Cafe, Ōtāhuhu
Idly Sambar, Kingsland
Daaku Kebab & Cafe, Manurewa
Panda Noodle Express, Albany
Happy Cafe, Royal Oak
Ak's Bakery, Mt Wellington
Dedwood Deli, Ponsonby
Daaku Kebab St George Street, Papatoetoe
Mount Eden Village Kebab
Al's Roast & Qiaos Chinese Takeaway, Snells Beach
Bombay Chinese Indian Restaurant, Queen St
Manna Kitchen Onehunga
Bawarchi Indian Food Takeaway, Sandringham
Beekeepers Wife, Riverhead
The Meat Hut, Massey
Chicking Takanini
Gangnam Style Korean BBQ Restaurant, Takapuna
United Coffee Nation, Victoria St West
Glen Eden Takeaways
932 Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House
Songket Malaysian Cafe
Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House
New Save Supermarket Newmarket
Hot and Spicy Pot East Tamaki
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