Tora Japanese Restaurant
Last inspected: Feb 13, 2026
86
Score
Inspectors have visited Tora Japanese Restaurant 15 times, with records going back to 2022. The most recent report on file is from Feb 13, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around three violations to closer to one violation per visit.
“Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.
That falls roughly in the middle of the pack for Boston restaurants. The record reflects steady performance over time.
15
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 13, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Backflow prevention (p)
Inspector notes: Provide an air gap at the kitchen one bay prep sink.
590.005/5-402.11-P
86
Feb 2, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
Backflow prevention (p)
Inspector notes: Provide an air gap at the kitchen one bay prep sink.
590.005/5-402.11-P
Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)
Inspector notes: No vomit clean up kit on site.Provide (procedures to be emailed to the PIC)
590.002/2-501.11-PF
78
Dec 16, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker observed expired. Schedule cleaning appointment
590.006/6-501.14-C
95
Dec 2, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker observed expired. Schedule cleaning appointment
590.006/6-501.14-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Food product observed stored on floor. Elevate to prevent potential contamination.
590.003/3-305.11-C
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Frozen fish observed thawing in ambient air. Corrected on site.
590.003/3-501.13-C
86
Aug 25, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: No hood sticker observed on hood system. Schedule cleaning appointment to receive sticker.
590.006/6-501.14-C
95
Aug 6, 2025
Routine
3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Fish in walk in cooler without date marking. Date marked sauce labled 7.23. Provide date marking for all foods held longer than 24 hours. Sauce discarded.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottle observed unlabled. Provide label.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
Handwashing cleanser availability (pf)
Inspector notes: Soap dispenser observed empty in warewash area. Corrected on site.
590.006/6-301.11-PF
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Leak observed from pipe in kitchen area. Repair as necessary.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Storage-other personal care items (c)
Inspector notes: Employee items observed on top of beer behind front counter. Remove.
590.007/7-209.11-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: No hood sticker observed on hood system. Schedule cleaning appointment to receive sticker.
590.006/6-501.14-C
64
Mar 24, 2025
Routine
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Conformance with approved procedures (pf)
Inspector notes: No sushi rice lab test available. Provide updated lab test.
590.008/8-103.12-PF
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: Paper towel dispenser observed empty on sushi bar. Provide.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottle observed without label. Provide.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
Outer openings protected (c)
Inspector notes: Front window observed open. Provide screen for open window or close to prevent potential contamination.
590.006/6-202.15-C
70
Feb 20, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Ventilation hood systems adequacy (c)
Inspector notes: Apparent residential hood being used in kitchen area. Referred to BFD.
590.004/4-301.14-C
95
Nov 20, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Backflow prevention air gap (p)
Inspector notes: Food prep sink observed with no air gap. Provide to prevent potential contaminants. Hire a licensed plumber to do the work and ensure they pull a permit fo the plumbing work.
590.005/5-202.13-P
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Rice in rice cooker at 125F in back of house. Discarded. Hold hot foods at 135F or above.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: Paper towel dispenser at sushi line observed empty. Corrected on site.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cardboard being used in sushi line refrigerator. Surfaces must be easily cleanable. Remove.
590.004/4-101.19-C
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Frozen shrimp observed thawing in ambient air. Discontinue. Shrimp moved to refrigeration to thaw.
590.003/3-501.13-C
Ventilation hood systems adequacy (c)
Inspector notes: Apparent residential hood being used in kitchen area. Referred to BFD.
590.004/4-301.14-C
58
Jul 29, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: No paper towels at sushi line hand sink. Corrected on site.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Miscellaneous sources of contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Employee food in close proximity to produce items in back of house. Remove.
590.003/3-307.11-C
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cardboard lining shelves in back of house. Remove.
590.004/4-101.19-C
82
Jan 2, 2024
Routine
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple items in walk in cooler observed without proper date marking. Ensure proper date marking for foods held over 24 hours.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Cleaning agents and sanitizers availability (pf)
Inspector notes: No sanitizer set up in 3 bay sink. Ensure sanitizer is properly set up and available at all hours.
590.004/4-303.11-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Chemical spray bottle observed without label. Provide.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Pan full of water under pipe of water filling station. Ensure all plumbing working properly. Repair as necessary.
590.005/5-205.15-C
70
Aug 29, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Soda gun holder with soils. Interior of ice machine with black mold-like substance. Clean and maintain to prevent contamination.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Nonfood-contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled cardboard coering wall at end of suchi line. Discard cardboard and discontinue covering wall with cardboard. Clean wall regularly. Soiled cardboard attracts pests
590.004/4-101.19-C
Wood use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soft wooden bowl (oke hangiri) used for seasoning sushi rice. Discontinue using soft wooden bowl for seasoning rice to prevent contamination. Use plastic or metal NSF approved
590.004/4-101.17-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Water on floor under water pitcher station. Ensure all pipes are connected properly to prevent water and soils attracting pests. Clean area and maintain.
590.005/5-205.15-C
78
Apr 18, 2023
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: Holder for soda gun soiled with build-up. Clean and maintain to rpevent contamination. Bottle of juice stored in ice bin. Discontinue storing bottles in beverage ice. Beverage ice is food and must contact only clean srufaces.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Conformance with approved procedures (pf)
Inspector notes: No letters for parasite destruction from fish purveyors or current lab test for sushi rice. Provide letter and lab test.
590.008/8-103.12-PF
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Ice scoop stored in ice bin. Store ice scoop outsode of ice bin in clean container.
590.003/3-304.12-C
(a) certified food protection manager (c)
Inspector notes: No allergen awareness posted. Provide certificate of allergaen awareness for full time employee.
590.002(C)/2-102.12-C
74
Dec 22, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Hand drying provision (pf)
Inspector notes: Hand sink at service line out of towels. Corrected on site. Ensure hand sinks have soap and towels at all times.
590.006/6-301.12-PF
Sponges use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Sponges observed at service line for washing knives and at warewashing. Discard sponges and discontinue using for washing food contact surfaces. Sponges may harbor high levels of bacteria.
590.004/4-101.16-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Rice spoon stored in 70F water. Store utensils clean and dry or in water over 135F. Corrected on site.
590.003/3-304.12-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Wall at end of sushi line behind trash can soiled. Clean to avoid attracting pests. Interior os sushi cooler with spills. Clean and maintain.
590.004/4-602.13-C
78
Aug 8, 2022
Routine
4 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Conformance with approved procedures (pf)
Inspector notes: Sushi rice logs are up to date but annual rice lab test letters from fish purveyors and copy of HACCP plan are not on file. Provide required documents.
590.008/8-103.12-PF
Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)
Inspector notes: No kit or procedures on site. Guidance provided via email.
590.002/2-501.11-PF
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Unlabeled spray bottle of glass cleaner under prep sink at sushi line. Clearly label all chemical bottles.
590.007/7-102.11-PF
Consumption of animal foods that are raw undercooked or not otherwise processed to eliminate pathogens (pf)
Inspector notes: Consumer reminder on menu is incomplete for under cooked eggs. Need symbol for under cooked denoting all soft boiled or undercooked (onsen tonago) egg on menu.
590.003/3-603.11-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Floor drain near warewashing machine soiled and with food debris. Clean and maintain to avoid attracting pests.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Sponges use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Sponges obsevred at every sink and wasrewashing area. Sponges can harbor dangerous levels of pathogens. Discard sponges and discontinue using sponges to clean food contact surfaces.
590.004/4-101.16-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Cases of avocado stored on floor of dry storage. Store food off the ground to prevent contamination.
590.003/3-305.11-C
Storage or display of food in contact with water or ice (c)
Inspector notes: Tofu garnish for miso soup stored in water. Discard water and discontinue storing tofu in water because it can increase bacterial activity.
590.003/3-303.12-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths on counter. Store cloths in sanitizer between uses to prevent cross contamination.
590.003/3-304.14-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Spoons tongs and chopsticks observed stored in water between 77F and 85F. Store utensils clean and dry or in water 135F or higher to prevent cross contamination.
590.003/3-304.12-C
50
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tora Japanese Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tora Japanese Restaurant on file is from Feb 13, 2026. The public record contains 15 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tora Japanese Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Tora Japanese Restaurant.
How does Tora Japanese Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Boston?
Tora Japanese Restaurant most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is about the same as the Boston average of 86.
Has Tora Japanese Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Tora Japanese Restaurant have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly three earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Tora Japanese Restaurant 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 Tora Japanese Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tora Japanese Restaurant is inspected around four times per year on average.
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