Chicken stored under wastewater pump: Latest Triangle restaurant inspections

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 May 12-18.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County inspection management system shows 98 restaurant inspections were completed May 12-18. Four restaurant received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%):

Ajisai Japanese Fusion (427 Woodburn Road, Raleigh) received a score of 88.5% on Thursday, May 14.

• The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards.
• Violations include fish plated to be served to a customer that wasn’t cooked to the proper temperature, an employee handled food with “artificial fingernails without wearing gloves” and employees washed their hands in the wrong sink, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in April 2025.

Inka Grill (16 W. Martin St., Raleigh) received a score of 83% on Friday, May 15

• The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards.
• Violations include containers marked as clean but had food residue on it, a live roach found in the kitchen area and utensils like ice cream scoops and tongs weren’t properly stored, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored a B grade in April 2026.

Little Rey Raleigh Ironworks (1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Raleigh) received a score of 87% on Tuesday, May 12.

• The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards.
• Violations include employees not washing their hands after changing gloves, food held at improper temperatures and “soiled pans and utensils” stored at clean, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in December 2025.

Taco Bamba Ridgewood (3518 Wade Ave., Raleigh) received a score of 87% on Friday, May 15.

• The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards.
• Violations include sink in a bathroom where the water didn’t get hot enough, eggs were stored on top of fruit and vegetables and food held cooling at the wrong temperature, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in November 2025.

Durham County sanitation scores

The Durham County inspection management system shows 36 restaurant inspections were completed May 12-18. One restaurant received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%):

Kabab and Curry (716 9th St, Durham) received a score of 86.5% on Monday, May 18.

• The restaurant was in violation of 19 standards.
• Violations include observing employees work with raw meat, clean the floor and grab other food, all without washing hands, foods without dates on the containers and uncovered chicken stored under a wastewater pump in a cooler, among other violations.
• The restaurant previously scored an A grade in February 2026.

Orange County sanitation scores

The Orange County inspection management system shows 11 restaurant inspections were completed May 12-18. All received an A grade.

Johnston County sanitation scores

The Johnston County inspection management system shows 29 restaurant inspections were completed May 12-18. All received an A grade.

Chatham County sanitation scores

The Chatham County inspection management system shows three restaurant inspections were completed May 12-18. All received an A grade.

This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Chicken stored under wastewater pump: Latest Triangle restaurant inspections."

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

919-829-4807

Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.