Laughing Monk Cafe

164 Brighton Av, Allston, MA 02134

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Sep 9, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Across the available record, Laughing Monk Cafe has five inspections on file, the first dated 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Sep 9, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around six violations to closer to two violations per visit over the last few inspections.

When inspectors have written things up, “in-use utensils between-use storage” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

Restaurants in Allston average 80, so Laughing Monk Cafe is doing better than most peers. Overall, the inspection record reads well.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Sep 9, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Food storage prohibited areas (c)

Inspector notes: Buckets of hydrating rice noodles stored under 3 compartment sink. Discontinue storing food under sinks to avoid possible contamination.

590.003/3-305.12-C

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: Rice scoop stored in 80F water. Store scoop clean and dry on in hot water over 135F.

590.003/3-304.12-C

Mar 20, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)

Inspector notes: Raw pork and chicken stored over cooked rice in walk-in refrigerator. Store raw meat and eggs below ready to eat food and produce.

590.003/3-302.11-P

(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)

Inspector notes: Dispenser knobs for detergent and sanitizer soiled. Clean knobs to prevent contamination from hands. Tube from sanitizer dispenser with black mold-like substance. Change tube to prevent contamination.

590.004/4-601.11-PF

Common name-working containers (pf)

Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottles without labels. Label chemical bottles to prevent contamination.

590.007/7-102.11-PF

Nonfood contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Soils and debris behind small freezer in kitchen and under stairs in basement. Clean to avoid attracting pests. Reviewed pest report- no activity noted

590.004/4-602.13-C

Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Aluminum foil lining shelf in kitchen. Discard foil.

590.004/4-101.19-C

Jul 23, 2024

Routine

2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 8 violations

(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)

Inspector notes: Numerous cut greens and sprouts on a cart in the kitchen at 50F Raw in shell eggs at the cookline at 55F Reviewed with PIC- Products out for 1 hour prior to the inspection All products were rapidly cooled in the freezer and placed in the refrigerator at 38F

590.003/3-501.16-P

Preventing contamination from hands (p)

Inspector notes: Observed an employee handling cooked chicken with a bare hand- The product was discarded voluntarily by the manager and glove use procedures were reviewed/ violation was corrected on site

590.003(C)/3-301.11-P

Where to wash (pf)

Inspector notes: Employee in lower prep is washing his hands in the prep sink- Use handwashing sink

590.002/2-301.15-PF

(a) (b) and (c)(1) (4)-(16) demonstration (pf)

Inspector notes: Priority violations noted on the inspection report-Review with all staff

590.002(B)/2-102.11-PF

(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)

Inspector notes: Blade of can opener with dried on food soils

590.004/4-601.11-PF

Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)

Inspector notes: Handwashing sink in the lower level is being used as a sink to dump mop water in instead of being used as a handwashing sink- Discontinue dumping mop water in this sink and use the mop sink located in the upstairs level

590.005/5-205.11-PF

Food preparation (c)

Inspector notes: Observed products being prepared on the door of the open low temperature dishwasher Cucumbers were being sliced on a mandolin into a bowl Discontinue

590.003/3-305.14-C

Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)

Inspector notes: Mop sink is located in a kitchen area and is not enclosed- Provide closure

590.006/6-101.11-C

Apr 10, 2023

Routine

6 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)

Inspector notes: Raw Meats stored behind the ready to eat food items at the cooking line sandwich unit. Separate properly. Only paper towels observed at the prep area on the lower level. No sanitizing solution. Wipe properly with sanitizer solution. Some food items stored on the floor at both walk-in units at lower level. Elevate properly. Observed mangos stored inside bulk brown rice container. Separate properly

590.003/3-305.11-C

Cleaning frequency and restrictions (c)

Inspector notes: Floor under and around the prep sink and three bay sink soiled. Clean properly.

590.006/6-501.12-C

Thawing (c)

Inspector notes: Observed shrimp thawing in stagnant water at lower level prep area. Thaw properly.

590.003/3-501.13-C

In-use utensils between-use storage (c)

Inspector notes: In- use Utensils stored in cold stagnant soiled water. Discontinue store proeprly on a clean/sanitized surface. Observed plastic cup inside rice cooker. Discontinue use handled utensils only.

590.003/3-304.12-C

Nonfood contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Shelves and floors under them at both walk-in units at lower levels soiled. Clean properly.

590.004/4-602.13-C

Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)

Inspector notes: Several bulk food containers without labels. Provide.

590.003/3-302.12-C

Nov 7, 2022

Routine

No violations found.

100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Laughing Monk Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Laughing Monk Cafe on file is from Sep 9, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Laughing Monk Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “in-use utensils between-use storage” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Laughing Monk Cafe.

How does Laughing Monk Cafe compare to other restaurants in Allston?

Laughing Monk Cafe most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Allston average of 80.

Has Laughing Monk Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Laughing Monk Cafe have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Laughing Monk 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 Laughing Monk Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Laughing Monk Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

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Score: 100 — Low Risk

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Score: 58 — Medium Risk

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