Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.)
Last inspected: Mar 31, 2026
90
Score
The health department has logged 13 inspections at Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.), the earliest from 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 31, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near two violations per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “controlling pests” has been the most frequent reason, cited five times.
The city-wide average for Dorchester sits at 86, putting Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) on the better side of that line. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
13
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 31, 2026
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cardboard on shelves and grease trap at meat room. Discard cardboard. Use materials that are durable and cleanable.
590.004/4-101.19-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Leak under sink in meat room. Repair as needed.
590.005/5-205.15-C
90
Sep 29, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
Compliance with food law (p)
Inspector notes: Conch for sale / Unclear on where they are coming from / Provide invoice
590.003(A)/3-201.11-P
Raw animal foods-cooking (pf)
Inspector notes: Balut eggs in front of store at room temperature. Move to refrigeration or discontinue sale
590.003/3-401.11-PF
78
Aug 18, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: No air gap at prep sinks provide.
590.005/5-202.13-P
86
Jun 23, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: No air gap at prep sinks provide.
590.005/5-202.13-P
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Evidence of flies stuck on fly trap tape discontinue self service and provide a current pest control service report.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Discontinue using hallway area to packaging produce must use designated area with proper equipment.
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
(b) and (c) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (c)
Inspector notes: Remove cardboard as liner at open display case and replace with commercial grade liner.
590.004/4-601.11-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean floor inside meat walk in cooler to remove visible soil.
590.006/6-201.11-C
64
Mar 11, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Characteristics-materials for construction and repair (c)
Inspector notes: Shelving inside Seafood Walk in cooler extremely rusty replace.
590.004/4-101.11-C
Prohibitions (c)
Inspector notes: Remove packaging machine from hallway area near seafood department.
590.004/4-903.12-C
(b) and (c) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (c)
Inspector notes: Clean Seafood walk in cooler to remove odors.
590.004/4-601.11-C
86
Oct 1, 2024
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Today observed less fly activity lamps located at trash compactor and compost area provide an additional current pest control report treating flies.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
90
Sep 12, 2024
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Today observed less fly activity lamps located at trash compactor and compost area provide an additional current pest control report treating flies.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
90
Aug 22, 2024
Routine
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Evidence of flies at staff break room and trash compactor area provide a current pest control report treating flies and regular service.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Shell stock maintaining identification (pf)
Inspector notes: No dates on shell stock tags and not in chroniclogicol order provide Shell stock tags attached to container date of last sold / maintained 90 days.
590.003/3-203.12-PF
(b) and (c) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (c)
Inspector notes: Ice unit panel at basement area soiled clean.
590.004/4-601.11-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Pipe missing from condensation unit replace.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Handwashing signage (c)
Inspector notes: No hand wash signage at meat and seafood department provide.
590.006/6-301.14-C
Characteristics-materials for construction and repair (c)
Inspector notes: Sneeze guard at fish department display case cracked replace.
590.004/4-101.11-C
67
Jan 4, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)
Inspector notes: Automatic sanitizer dispnesor at the 3 bay sink located in the seafood department well over the required 200-400ppm. Discontinue using the automatic feeder and add sanitizer manually.
590.004/4-302.14-PF
Handwashing signage (c)
Inspector notes: No signage at the hand sink located in the produce department. Provide.
590.006/6-301.14-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Drainage pipe under the 3 bay sink located in the seafood department not connected. Address and make any necesary repairs.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Leg to the 3 bay sink in the seafood department is missing and replaced with a peice of plastic. Address and make any necessary repairs or replace. Fan of the compressor inside of the produce walk-in cooler not functioning. Repair.
590.004/4-202.16-C
(a) certified food protection manager (c)
Inspector notes: At the time of the inspection there was no Food Allergen Certification. Provide.
590.002(C)/2-102.12-C
74
Sep 11, 2023
Routine
3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to address the fly issue in the fish department back hall and berk room areas. Location will need a good cleaning. This will need to be monitored.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: At this time PIC could not find all the State licenes to sell live fish lobster crabs. Also to eviscerate whole fish. Please provide if not apply with the state.
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
(b) and (c) consumer self-service operations (pf)
Inspector notes: Location had squid and periwinkles out for self service. Discontinue
590.003/3-306.13-PF
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to paint to seal or replace wire rusty shelf in fish walk in.
590.004/4-202.16-C
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean floor in fish department and in the walk in of water build up. This will help with fly issue and smell.
590.006/6-201.11-C
Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to replace cracked dividers at fish counter. Replace broken curtains.
590.004/4-501.11-C
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (c)
Inspector notes: Provide a thermometer for the raw whole eggs refrigeration unit and monitor it to be at or beloew 45F.
590.004/4-204.112-C
Walls and ceilings attachments (c)
Inspector notes: Replace missing tiles in fish department next to prep sink.
590.006/6-201.17-C
Miscellaneous sources of contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Discontinue to store any fish on retail floor in containers. I found periwinkles in a container not on ice and squid on ice in containers on retail floor. All product must be store off the floor protected for customers and at the proper temperature.
590.003/3-307.11-C
55
Aug 18, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food disposition (p)
Inspector notes: Coffee drinks in refrigeration say to keep frozen and instruct to use within 15 days after fully thawed / Drinks have been moved to freezer. If PIC wishes to keep some coffee drinks thawed under refrigeration add extra signage that it must be used within 15 days.
590.003/3-501.18-P
Food labels (pf)
Inspector notes: Unlabeled cups of yogurt in the grab and go refrigeration / Provide labels complete with ingredients
590.003/3-602.11-PF
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cutting boards worn and scored / Resurface or replace
590.004/4-501.12-C
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Several dented cans removed from shelves / Inspect all canned food and remove any with sharp dents that compromise the lip or seam of cans
590.003/3-302.11-C
70
Mar 24, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Compliance with food law (p)
Inspector notes: On retail floor found small cups covered with yogurt. PIC stated that it was made by his wife at home. PIC removed and will discontinue to sell any products not commercially packaged going forward.
590.003(A)/3-201.11-P
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: In walk in freezer found sliced raw meats packaged with out lablels. PIC will need to properly label the packaged with packaged date as discussed.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Where to wash (pf)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to review with staff to wash hands in hand sink and not prep or three bay sink. Hand sink in fish department was dry to the touch.
590.002/2-301.15-PF
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: No paper towels in fish department hand sink. PIC corrected.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Hand sink in meat prep room blocked with mop bucket. Hand sink in fish department blocked with bucket used for ice. PIC will need to review with staff not to block hand sinks and to wash hands in hand sinks not prep or three bay sinks.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: As discussed PIC will need to address the peeling paint on the wall in the produce prep area.
590.006/6-101.11-C
Standards of identity (c)
Inspector notes: All products on the retail floor will need to be labeled to what is is side.
590.003/3-601.11-C
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean all cutting boards to removed deep dark scores. If not please resurface or replace.
590.004/4-501.12-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to clean fan covers in walk ins that have a mold build up on them.
590.004/4-202.16-C
47
Jul 28, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Home made deserts at front counter out at room temperature. All food must be stored at 41F or below at all times.
590.003/3-501.16-P
Compliance with food law (p)
Inspector notes: Discontinue to sell any products that are made in a private home. PIC stated that deserts are made at home and sold at front counter out of temperature and not properly labled. PIC voluntarily discarded in bag and denatured with bleach. Discontinue
590.003(A)/3-201.11-P
Food labels (pf)
Inspector notes: All packaged will need to be labeled. Deserts not labled with ingredients and location product is made.
590.003/3-602.11-PF
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Product in walk in was not covered. PIC stated that it was going into the trash. It looks like it was just ground up? Product on the floor in both walk ins on retail floor of building.
590.003/3-305.11-C
Wall and ceiling coverings and coatings (c)
Inspector notes: Tiles wall by walk in in fish department has broken and missing wall tiles. Repair.
590.006/6-201.16-C
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cutting boards in meat prep area will need to be resurfaced or replaced. They have deep dark scores and not sure if bleach will clean up.
590.004/4-501.12-C
Wall and ceiling coverings and coatings (c)
Inspector notes: Clean walls in walk ins. and water build up on floor. Clean condencer in fish walk in.
590.006/6-201.16-C
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) on file is from Mar 31, 2026. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.)?
Across the inspection record, “controlling pests” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.).
How does Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) compare to other restaurants in Dorchester?
Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Dorchester average of 86.
Has Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.)'s inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) 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 Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Phu Cuong Market(1188 Dor. Ave.) is inspected around four times per year on average.
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