Restaurant on Durham’s Ninth Street earns ‘B’ grade: Latest inspections
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Durham inspections Jan. 27–Feb. 2 found two restaurants with B grades.
- Szechuan Mansion Hotpot scored 85% for undercooked seafood and improper storage.
- Top’s China scored 87.5% for cross-contamination risks and improper cooling practices.
Update: 20+ Triangle restaurants reinspected after health violations. See the new scores
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 Jan. 28 to Feb. 2.
Wake County sanitation scores
The Wake County inspection management system shows 88 restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. All restaurants received an A grade (a score of at least 90%).
Durham County sanitation scores
The Durham County inspection management system shows 32 restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. Two restaurants received a B grade (a score between 80% and 90%):
Szechuan Mansion Hotpot (746 Ninth St, Durham) received a score of 85% on Thursday, Jan 29.
- The restaurant was in violation of 15 standards.
- Violations included finding undercooked seafood, and the restaurant could not provide the parasite destruction letter during the inspection. Plus, multiple food items (including pork foot, mushrooms, cut lettuce and pig intestine) were cooked/open with no date mark. Multiple containers of food were stored directly touching food items in other containers. Multiple purses, jackets and personal belongings were stored on the dry goods shelves and intermingled with food items.
- The restaurant previously scored 92.5% in March 2025 and 91% in October 2024.
Top’s China Restaurant (1205 University Dr, Durham) received a score of 87.5% on Jan. 29.
- The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards.
- Violations included finding several meat products removed from original packages and “mingled in with other protein and uncovered wonton,” along with cooked wings cooling in a tightly sealed container when cold air must flow around the product to remove the heat.
- The restaurant previously scored 87.5% in September and 82% in August.
Orange County sanitation scores
The Orange County inspection management system shows 11 restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. All restaurants received an A grade.
Johnston County sanitation scores
The Johnston County inspection management system shows 24 restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. All restaurants received an A grade.
Chatham County sanitation scores
The Chatham County inspections management system shows six restaurant inspections were completed Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. All restaurants received an A grade.
This story was originally published February 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM.
