Dead bugs and spoiled, moldy food in Triangle restaurant: Scores (June 10)

The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots.

Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses.

You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated.

Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties for the week of June 3-9.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County inspection management system shows that 103 restaurant inspections were completed June 3-9.

• Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.

• One restaurant received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

Luna Azul Tacos & Mariscos Restaurant (2645 E Millbrook Rd. in Raleigh) received a score of 88% during an inspection on Wednesday, June 4.

• The restaurant was in violation of 20 standards.

• Violations included several foods in cold-hold units that spoiled and were moldy, like rice, chicken, jalapenos, cut avocado, banana leaves, beans, corn silk for liver and beef. There was also residue accumulation and dead fruit flies in reach-in cold-hold units, along with an open bag of sugar and boxes of tortillas stored on the floor.

• The restaurant previously scored 96.5% in November 2024.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Wake County at bit.ly/4dGbJN3.

Durham County sanitation scores

The Durham County inspection management system shows 19 restaurant inspections were completed June 3-9.

• Most restaurants received an A grade.

• One restaurant received a B grade.

Thai 55 (2223 NC-54 STE Q in Durham) received a score of 89.5% during an inspection on Wednesday, June 4.

• The restaurant was in violation of 12 standards.

• Violations included raw shell eggs stored above dressing and sauces inside the low reach-in cooler next to the grill area, wrapped portions of cooked noodles sitting at room temperature on the counter and multiple items in the reach-in and walk-in cooler observed without dates.

• The restaurant previously scored 91.5% in February 2025 and 96.5% in July 2024.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Durham County at bit.ly/3pVQfpG.

Orange County sanitation scores

The Orange County inspection management system shows that 12 restaurant inspections were completed June 3-9.

• All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Orange County at bit.ly/3eQqpxc.

Johnston County sanitation scores

The Johnston County inspection management system shows that 20 restaurant inspections were completed June 3-9.

• All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Johnston County at bit.ly/4eEDuGr.

Chatham County sanitation scores

The Chatham County inspections management system shows that two restaurant inspections were completed June 3-9.

• All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Chatham County at bit.ly/3JfiHwq.

This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Dead bugs and spoiled, moldy food in Triangle restaurant: Scores (June 10)."

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription