As Charlotte’s restaurant selection continues to grow, many establishments are scrambling to attract customers and really letting their health standards slide in the process.
Some of the most common reasons for low scores were food handlers not washing their hands properly, contaminated food containers, and improper food temperatures (many restaurants are still lacking proper infrared thermometers).
These were the worst inspection scores in Charlotte for July, 2025;
#10 PF Changs
6809 PHILLIPS PLACE CT, CHARLOTTE NC 28210
Scored 88.50 (B) on 7/14/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed raw salmon being stored over salad inside prep unit.
- Observed raw salmon and cooked chicken thawing inside same basin of prep sink.
- Observed multiple plates, metal bowls, and containers with food debris while being stored as clean.
- Observed pink build up on ice machine metal plate.
- Observed ground chicken, beef, and raw chicken holding above 41F in prep top.
- Observed canned bamboo, cooked chicken and 2 pans of fried chicken without dates. Items were prepared last night.
- Observed sushi rice being held on TPHC without a time label.
- Observed raw salmon and cooked chicken thawing in stagnant water.
- Observed flies near dish area and a fly inside container on top of dumplings.
#9 Shanes Rib Shack
5220 NEW FASHION WY, CHARLOTTE NC 28278
Scored 88.50 (B) on 7/25/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed food employee use bare hands to turn off the faucet after washing hands.
- Observed food employee get Romain lettuce from the WIC then return to the prep station without changing gloves and washing hands.
- Observed PIC dispose of sanitizer solution in a handwashing sink.
- Observed a piece of charcoal in direct contact with cooked RTE chicken tenders.
- Observed QUAT sanitizer at 0ppm while actively being used to sanitize dishes in the 3 comp sink.
- Observed cooked RTE chicken wings, tenders, and nuggets in the RIC on the cook line without dates.
- Observed no thin probe thermometer available during inspection.
- Observed fuzzy black build up on the shelves in the WIC.
- Observed a nozzle on the hose in the mop sink that was under continuous pressure.
- Observed leaking pipes above the mop sink.
- Observed residue on the floors and walls throughout the facility.
#8 Pho Real
440 E MCCULLOUGH DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 88 (B) on 7/23/2025
They had the following violations;
- PIC was unaware of dish machine not properly sanitizing, TPHC items were improperly labeled, food employees did not wash hands at appropriate times, and was unaware of improper cooling/parameters.
- Observed food employees leaving out back door, grabbing handles to re-enter and did not wash hands before returning to working with food.
- Observed food employees coughing and no hand wash after.
- Observed raw chicken stored above RTE foods inside the 3 door standing RIC.
- Observed raw chicken stored above raw beef inside the standing 3 door RIC.
- Observed dishes being actively washed inside the dish machine. Dish machine was observed at 0 PPM of chlorine sanitizer.
- Observed 2 closed, large containers of broth placed inside the RIC before closing to cool overnight.
- Observed slaw and large container of sliced beef above 41F.
- Observed garlic and oil and 2 containers of soup with no date marks.
- Observed cut lettuce, bean sprouts, cut cabbage, and cut bok choy with the in correct TPHC stamp.
- Observed cooked noodles with no time stamp.
#7 Jersey Mikes
10110 JOHNSTON RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28210
Scored 88 (B) on 7/31/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed open top employee beverage stored on rolls of paper towels at dry storage rack.
- Observed employee turn off faucet with bare hand after washing.
- Observed no paper towels or hand drying device in women’s restroom.
- Observed many dishes stored as clean with visible food debris.
- Observed heavily grease-soiled metal press beside clean dishes.
- Observed probe of thermometer with encrusted grease and food debris.
- Observed sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, and mayo between 55F-61F inside back prep counter cold wells.
- Observed several items without date marks at different locations- bottled dressings in fliptop 2 and WIC, pans of shredded lettuce on bottom rack of deli case, tomatoes cooling inside WIC.
- Observed quat sanitizer in squirt bottle over 300ppm.
- Observed many boxes of food and single service articles on floor near warewashing, in addition to onions and pickles on floor in WIC.
#6 East Coast Wings + Grill
2135 THRIFT RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28208
Scored 87.5 (B) on 7/2/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed no certified food protection manager on duty during inspection.
- Observed food employee return from the WIC and attempted to don gloves without a hand wash.
- Observed for employee work with raw chicken then proceeded to dawn new gloves without a hand wash.
- Observed chlorine dish machine being actively used while producing 0ppm. Food employee found a cap lodged in the bottom of the machine preventing any water from coming through.
- Upon arrival EHS observed cooked chicken wings holding at 95F.
- Observed wet stacked containers that were said to be stacked as clean.
- Observed hot holding drawer unable to close properly without proper adjustments.
#5 Bojangles
8521 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28262
Scored 87 (B) on 7/21/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed multiple risk factor violations at time of inspection such as handwashing, cooking temperatures, and cold holding temperatures as TCS items and multiple cold holding units were reading above 41F.
- Observed food employee handling eggs (major allergen) and return to contact other food without preventing contamination of major allergen.
- Observed food employee wash hands for less than 20 seconds.
- Observed no soap at handsink at men’s bathroom.
- Observed debris on dishes stored as clean.
- Observed thermometer stored with heavy debris and buildup.
- Observed sausage patties cooked between 107-176F.
- Observed multiple items hot holding below 135F.
- Observed multiple items cold holding above 41F.
- Observed non-functioning thermometer.
#4 New Century Oriental Deli
4500 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Scored 86.5 (B) on 7/16/2025
They had the following violations;
- RTE foods are not being dated marked, moldy food present, dishes aren’t being cleaned properly.
- No employee present has active ANSI food protection manager certification.
- Employee drinks observed on prep table. Half eaten employee food also observed in areas of kitchen and above prep surfaces. Store employee drinks in a separate area.
- No paper towels at hand washing sink in kitchen.
- Steel wool observed in hand washing sink in other part of kitchen.
- Raw duck hanging over pan of raw pork in walk-in cooler.
- Can opener blade, most strainers, and large amount of other dishes had visible debris on them.
- Cooked meat, garlic, and peppers in upright cooler had visible mold growth on them.
- Cooked pork in freezer was date marked for 7-7 but freezer is not freezing food (pork measured 36F).
- Steamed buns held using TPHC were not labeled with start time.
- Large amount of live roaches observed during inspection.
#3 Imperial Treasure
14815 BALLANTYNE VILLAGE WY, CHARLOTTE NC 28277
Scored 86 (B) on 7/29/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed numerous priority violations and repeats during inspection. EHS observed no managerial control over priorities such as cold holding, storage order, employee health and proper sanitation of food contact surfaces
- PIC unable to provide any documentation of training for employees responsibility to report symptoms, illnesses, and exposure.
- Observed no soap provided for back hand sink.
- Observed no hand sink available at any hand sink in kitchen.
- Observed numerous items in dry storage area with no label in English.
- Observed numerous raw proteins in walk in cooler over RTE foods.
- Observed dish machine not dispensing sanitizer at the proper concentration.
- Observed numerous items in WIC over 41F and two items in flip top stored above fill line above 41F.
#2 Tous Le Jours
4625 PIEDMONT ROW DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28210
Scored 86 (B) on 7/14/2025
They had the following violations;
- Observed no manager present.
- Observed no one present with a Food protection manager certification.
- Observed hand sink in kitchen area not operational during inspection.
- Observed multiple scoops, knives, containers and bakeware soiled with food debris while being stored as clean.
- Observed tongs being stored in soapy water.
- Observed milk, cream shredded cheese, cut lettuce, and cream cheese inside walk in cooler above 41F. Ambient air of walk in cooler was 40-41F.
- Observed savory items in display case held on TPHC past 4 hours according to TPHC white board.
- Observed almond milk and oat milk in reach in cooler cooling at a rate of 0.02F/min.
- Observed multiple small flies throughout facility, some of which were in display cases with food items.
#1 Cottage
6701 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Scored 81.5 (B) on 7/2/2025
They had the following violations;
- No system of date marking, employees were making wontons on prep table that had a bag of raw meat thawing on it (PIC stated it was personal use raw meat), very few dishes that were stored as clean were actually clean (food debris on them), PIC had turned off power to walk-in cooler and left all the TCS foods in the cooler so they were all too warm, grilled chicken was sitting out at 81F, no labels for TCS foods held using TPHC, half eaten food observed on prep sink, no soap/paper towels at multiple hand sinks.
- Tray of employee food observed on prep sink.
- No paper towels at hand washing sinks in bathrooms and no paper towels at hand washing sink in kitchen.
- No soap at hand sink in bathroom.
- Wontons were being prepared on prep table while raw meat was thawing on prep table (PIC stated it was personal food). Also, raw salmon stored on shelf above noodles in sandwich cooler bottom.
- Nearly all utensils, pans, and knives stored as clean had visible food debris on them. Prep sink also had dried vegetable matter on it and it looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in days.
- Grilled chicken measured 81F and was stored out of temperature control.
- All TCS foods in the walk-in cooler measured 49-52F. Lo mein, imitation crab, raw beef, and raw chicken in sandwich cooler measured 45-52F.
- No TCS ready-to-eat foods were labeled with prep date. No system of date marking in facility.
- Flies in establishment.
If you’d like to monitor health scores or do a quick search for a restaurant you’re about to eat at, check out North Carolina’s health inspection database here.
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