Bugs & dirty dishes found in Triangle restaurant kitchens: Scores (Aug. 5)

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 from July 22-Aug. 4.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County inspection management system shows that 250 restaurant inspections were completed July 22-Aug. 4.

• Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.
• Six restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

Saltgrass Steakhouse at 6601 Knightdale Blvd. in Knightdale:

• The restaurant received a score of 88.5% was in violation of eight standards during an inspection on Aug. 4.
• Violations included multiple containers of raw beef stored on top of containers of raw fish, multiple dishes that were deemed clean but had food debris, and a few moist and soiled wiping cloths on countertops.
• The restaurant previously scored 92% in March 2025 and 93% in July 2024. 

Flavor Hills at 319 Fayetteville St Suite 105 in Raleigh:

• The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards and received a score of 87.5% during an Aug. 1 inspection.
• Violations included several metal pans, bowls and utensils being stored as clean observed with food debris, all of the shelving in the walk-in cooler had food debris and black residue accumulation and several food employees observed handling raw meats and eggs without washing their hands before moving to another task.
• The restaurant previously scored 90% in April 2025 and 86.5% in February 2025.

Hibachi China Buffet at 2909 E Millbrook Rd. in Raleigh:

• The restaurant received a score of 84% and was in violation of 16 standards following a July 31 inspection.
• Violations included live flies observed in the kitchen and soda nozzles at the soda machine and ice chute with heavy residue accumulation. An employee at the kitchen cook line was also observed scratching their neck and head with bare hands, then not going to wash hands before returning to duties.
• The restaurant previously scored 91% in May 2025.

Vaishno Bhog at 810 E Chatham St. in Cary:

• The restaurant was in violation of eight standards and received a score of 87% on July 29.
• Violations included a kitchen employee who washed their hands without soap, wet wiping cloths stored on the prep counter between uses, a few containers of cooked samosas, and an open bag of carrots stored directly on the floor under the shelving in the walk-in cooler.
• The restaurant previously scored 94.5% in December 2024 and 97% in August 2024. It was reinspected on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and received a score of 98%.

Anjappar at 101 Ledgestone Way in Cary:

• The restaurant received a score of 80% and was in violation of 16 standards during a inspection on July 28.
• Violations included an employee handling cooked bread with bare hands, several others in the kitchen without proper hair restraints, and various foods uncovered in a reach-in cooler.
• The restaurant previously scored 90.5% in April 2025 and 90% in October 2024. It was reinspected July 31 and received a score of 95%.

Mariscos Nayarit at 3351 Cypress Plantation Trl in Raleigh:

• The restaurant was in violation of 21 standards and received a score of 85.5% on July 28.
• Violations included raw meat stored above vegetables on one make line bottom, re-packaged raw chicken stored above raw beef in a walk-in freezer and several live house flies were seen in the kitchen and dining area.
• The restaurant previously scored 95.5% in January and 96% in April 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 94 restaurant inspections were completed July 22-Aug. 4.

• Most restaurants received an A grade.
• One restaurant received a B grade.

Big Bad Breakfast Restaurant at 2608 Erwin Rd #120 in Durham:

• The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards and received a score of 87% during an inspection on July 29.
• Violations included multiple gnats observed around the mop sink and a container holding dishes in the dry goods area found with food debris in them, making the dishes inside not clean as well. A food employee was also seen switching gloves to continue working with food without washing hands in-between.
• The restaurant previously scored 94% in March 2025 and 91% in November 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 29 restaurant inspections were completed July 22-Aug. 4.

• 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 32 restaurant inspections were completed July 22-Aug. 4.

• 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 23 restaurant inspections were completed July 22-Aug. 4.

• Most restaurants received an A grade. 
• One restaurant received a B grade.

Pittsboro Food Mart at 133 Hillsboro St. in Pittsboro:

• The restaurant was in violation of 14 standards and received a score of 86.5% on Aug. 1.
• Violations included a food employee not washing hands before handling food; another observed handling unpackaged food without effective hair restraints; the bathroom toilet was dirty and stopped up with tissue paper.
• The restaurant previously scored 91.5% in May 2025 and 97% in December 2024.

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

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Bugs & dirty dishes found in Triangle restaurant kitchens: Scores (Aug. 5)."