‘Microbial growth,’ undated queso in Triangle restaurants: Latest inspections
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two Wake County restaurants received B grades after inspections June 9–15.
- Durham inspections June 9–15 found two B grades with violations like improper storage.
- All inspected restaurants in Orange, Johnston and Chatham counties received A grades.
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 June 9-15.
Wake County sanitation scores
The Wake County inspection management system shows 90 restaurant inspections were completed June 9-15. Two restaurants received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%):
New Asian Garden (13654 Capital Blvd, Suite 128, Wake Forest) received a score of 87% on Tuesday, June 9.
- The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards.
- Violations include “microbial growth build up” at the ice dispenser at the fountain drink machine, employees washing dishes without soap and ready-to-eat food had no dates marked, among other violations.
- The restaurant previously scored an A grade in October 2025.
O.M. Tea Boba & Bites(3901 Capital Blvd, Raleigh) received a score of 88 on Thursday, June 11.
- The restaurant was in violation of 16 standards.
- Violations include some spices not labeled, utensils soaking in a vat with no sanitizer and no paper towels at two hand sinks, among other violations.
- The restaurant previously scored an A grade in September 2025.
Durham County sanitation scores
The Durham County inspection management system shows 33 restaurant inspections were completed June 9-15. Two restaurants received a B grade (a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%):
The Tipsy Bull(800 Taylor St., Suite 9, Durham) received a score of 85.5% on Tuesday, June 9.
- The restaurant was in violation of 16 standards.
- Violations include employees not washing hands while switching tasks, raw shrimp stored above other items in the walk-in cooler and buttermilk in the fridge with no date, among other violations.
- The restaurant previously scored an A grade in January 2026.
Taqueria Mi Pueblo(1000 N. Miami Blvd. Suite 223, Durham) received a score of 86.5% on Wednesday, June 10.
- The restaurant was in violation of 23 standards.
- Violations include raw chicken stored above pork in a walk-in cooler, a deep container of pork was discarded after it wasn’t cooled down properly and many foods, including queso fresco, pico de gallo and cooked beans did not have date markings, 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 June 9-15. All received an A grade.
Johnston County sanitation scores
The Johnston County inspection management system shows 31 restaurant inspections were completed June 9-15. All received an A grade.
Chatham County sanitation scores
The Chatham County inspection management system shows five restaurant inspections were completed June 9-15. All received an A grade.
