Live cockroaches, expired food: Worst Triangle restaurant inspections

North Carolina health inspectors found multiple violations at restaurants in the Triangle throughout November, including live bugs, dirty dishes and undercooked food.

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.

Here are the restaurants that received the lowest scores in the last month.

Worst Wake County sanitation scores

Anise Pho at 222 Glenwood Ave #113 in Raleigh

• The restaurant received a score of 84.5% on Monday, Nov. 10 and was in violation of 13 standards.
• Violations included several live roaches observed throughout the kitchen along the walls, an employee seen washing gloved hands and employees observed dating Nov. 10 date on items made day prior.
• The restaurant previously scored 90% in April 2025. It also received 88.50% on Nov. 20.
• It has not been reinspected, according to county documents, as of publication.

Giorgios Epicurean Market at 2020 Progress Ct 150 in Raleigh

• The restaurant received a score of 87% on Thursday, Nov. 6 and was in violation of 13 standards.
• Violations included food debris on dishes being stored as clean and food stored on the floor in the shared walk-in freezer. The establishment is also receiving several different types of fresh fish and serving them raw but was unable to confirm that these fish items are free from parasites.
• The restaurant previously scored 92% in July 2025 and 97% in February 2025.
• It was reinspected on Thursday, Nov. 20 and received a 90.5%. 

Shuckin’ Shack at 2340 Bale St #100 in Raleigh

• The restaurant received a score of 85% on Wednesday, Nov. 5 and was in violation of 16 standards.
• Violations included a box of lemons and a box of oysters stored on the floor of a walk-in cooler and food probe thermometer with a dead battery. There was also residue/debris accumulation in cold-hold units, drawer coolers, along sides of cook equipment, on clean dish storage rack, in ice scoop holder, along ice machine baffle, and along storage shelving.
• The restaurant previously scored 92% in June 2025 and 93% in November 2024.
• It has not been reinspected, according to county documents, as of publication.

The Curry Club at 3281 Avent Ferry Rd #117 in Raleigh

• The restaurant received a score of 88.5% on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and was in violation of 12 standards.
• Violations included several employee water bottles and open-lid coffee cups stored on shelving for clean dishes and equipment, raw shell eggs stored over ready-to-eat foods, and food debris build-up inside all reach-in units and inside walk-in cooler, microwaves and prep surfaces.
• The restaurant previously scored 91% in June 2025 and 97% in January 2025.
• It was reinspected on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and received a 94%.

Worst Durham County sanitation scores

Italian Pizzeria at 3823 Guess Rd. in Durham

• The restaurant received a score of 88.5% on Monday, Nov. 24 and was in violation of 12 standards.
• Violations included an employee tasting food with their hands while wearing used gloves, another employee working with visibly soiled gloves and missing date markings on multiple foods in the reach-in.
• The restaurant previously scored 95.5 in August 2025 and 96% in May 2025.
• It has not been reinspected, according to county documents, as of publication.

Lime and Lemon Grill at 811 N Ninth St. in Durham

• The restaurant received a score of 84% on Thursday, Nov. 20 and was in violation of 20 standards.
• Violations included a microwave in need of cleaning and multiple employees observed engaging in food preparation that were in need of a beard net. Almost everything in the establishment that was not cooling was also found without coverings.
• The restaurant previously scored 91% in July 2025 and 95% in March 2025.
• It has not been reinspected, according to county documents, as of publication.

Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar at 1125 W NC 54 Hwy Suite 301 in Durham

• The restaurant received a score of 74.5% on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and was in violation of 21 standards.
• Violations included food splatter on walls in multiple areas, cleaning needed on the floors throughout the entire kitchen and multiple foods without dates.
• The restaurant previously scored 88% in August 2025 and 96.5% in May 2025.
• It has not been reinspected, according to county documents, as of publication.

Randy’s Pizza at 5311 S Miami Blvd. in Durham

• The restaurant received a score of 87% on Thursday, Nov. 13 and was in violation of 17 standards.
• Violations included several observed items above proper cold holding temperatures, roast beef that had been dated Oct. 27 and soiled to-go containers being stored uncovered directly on top of shelving containing dust.
• The restaurant previously scored 92.5% in August 2025 and 97.5% in June 2025.
• It has not been reinspected, according to county documents, as of publication.

Japan Express at 3409 Hillsborough Rd. Durham

• The restaurant received a score of 85.5% on Wednesday, Nov. 5 and was in violation of 20 standards.
• Violations included clean containers on the air drying rack with food debris on them, chicken wings coming out of the fryer found undercooked by 45 degrees, and multiple items found uncovered.
• The restaurant previously scored 93% in July 2025 and 96% in March 2025.
• It was reinspected on Monday, Nov. 24 and received a 96.5%.

Worst Chatham County sanitation scores

New China Inn at 203 Chatham Sq. in Siler City

• The restaurant received a score of 86.5% on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and was in violation of 17 standards.
• Violations included a live roach in the kitchen and used food can tins, used egg cartons and used raw chicken boxes being reused. Refrigeration capacity was also maxed out with ready-to-eat foods sitting next to or under raw foods, due to no space to organize raw foods and ready to eat foods.
• The restaurant previously scored 96% in August 2025 and 90% in March 2025.
• It was reinspected Wednesday, Nov. 12 and received a 96%.

All restaurants in Orange and Johnston counties inspected in November received A grades.