Essential Herb & Juice Cafe

501B Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Jan 28, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Essential Herb & Juice Cafe appears in inspection records 10 times, starting in 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Jan 28, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near one violation per visit across recent inspections.

“Certified food protection manager” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.

The city-wide average for Dorchester sits at 86, putting Essential Herb & Juice Cafe on the better side of that line. Overall, the inspection record reads well.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 28, 2026

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

(a) certified food protection manager (c)

Inspector notes: Missing Servesafe certificate. Provide and post

590.002(C)/2-102.12-C

Jan 15, 2026

Routine

2 major violations. 1 minor violation.

View 3 violations

Handwashing cleanser availability (pf)

Inspector notes: Handsink missing soap. Provide at all times

590.006/6-301.11-PF

Food labels (pf)

Inspector notes: Observed baked goods without proper labels. Provide labels for all products outside of original packaging.

590.003/3-602.11-PF

(a) certified food protection manager (c)

Inspector notes: Missing Servesafe certificate. Provide and post

590.002(C)/2-102.12-C

Aug 6, 2025

Routine

No violations found.

100

Mar 7, 2025

Routine

No violations found.

100

Aug 2, 2024

Routine

No violations found.

100

Feb 14, 2024

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)

Inspector notes: Provide test kits for the chlorine used in the 3 bay sink

590.004/4-302.14-PF

Dec 8, 2023

Routine

2 major violations. 1 minor violation.

View 3 violations

Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)

Inspector notes: No test strips available at the time of the inspection for the 3 bay sink. Provide.

590.004/4-302.14-PF

Handwashing cleanser availability (pf)

Inspector notes: No soap at hand sink located next to the 3 bay sink. Provide.

590.006/6-301.11-PF

Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Door to the first basement coffin style freezer is damaged. Repair or replace.

590.004/4-202.16-C

Feb 9, 2023

Routine

No violations found.

100

Nov 21, 2022

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Electric fryer observed in the basement preparation room not under any type of hood system. Discontinue use and remove from premises.

590.004/4-202.16-C

(a) certified food protection manager (c)

Inspector notes: No one on site with a current Food Safety Certification. Provide documentation of at least oone full time employee who has been enrolled in some form fo Food Safety course for the re-inspection.

590.002(C)/2-102.12-C

May 18, 2022

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)

590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF

Show all 10 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Essential Herb & Juice Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Essential Herb & Juice Cafe on file is from Jan 28, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Essential Herb & Juice Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “certified food protection manager” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Essential Herb & Juice Cafe.

How does Essential Herb & Juice Cafe compare to other restaurants in Dorchester?

Essential Herb & Juice Cafe most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Dorchester average of 86.

Has Essential Herb & Juice Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Essential Herb & Juice Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Essential Herb & Juice Cafe means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

How often is Essential Herb & Juice Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Essential Herb & Juice Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 64 — Medium Risk

Raphael Caribbean Cuisine

487 Washington St

Score: 64 — Medium Risk

Explore More

→ All locations in Dorchester → Café / Breakfast restaurants in Boston → Café / Breakfast restaurants in Dorchester