Waku Waku
Last inspected: Sep 24, 2025
55
Score
Public records show nine inspections at Waku Waku stretching back to 2022. Waku Waku was last inspected on Sep 24, 2025. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near four violations each time.
Across the inspection history, “ready-to-eat time/temperature control” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Restaurants in Boston average 86, so Waku Waku trails the local norm. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
9
Inspections
1
Critical latest
3
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Sep 24, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw chicken breast stored on top of ready to eat bao buns. Corrected on site. Ensure raw foods are stored below ready to eat products to prevent potential contaminants.
590.003/3-302.11-P
(a) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (pf)
Inspector notes: All shelfing in walk in cooler observed with black mold like build up. Clean to remove all soils in walk in cooler.
590.004/4-601.11-PF
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Rodent droppings under service area hand sink. Clean to remove. Provide an updated pest report.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: No date marking on multiple foods in walk in cooler. Provide for all foods kept longer than 24 hours.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple containers of food product uncovered in stand up refrigeration unit. Uncovered spices and seasonings in basement. Cover to prevent potential contaminants.
590.003/3-302.11-C
Eating drinking or using tobacco (c)
Inspector notes: Cigarette box stored next to clean bowls on production line. Discontinue.
590.002/2-401.11-C
(b) and (c) equipment food-contact surfaces nonfood-contact surfaces and utensils (c)
Inspector notes: Table next to production line is rusted. Replace shelfing.
590.004/4-601.11-C
55
Jun 2, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Fried chicken in ambient air at 85F. Discarded. Hold hot foods at 135F or above.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Cleaning agents and sanitizers availability (pf)
Inspector notes: High temperature dish machine observed with detegerent container empty. Corrected on site. Ensure detegerent is available at all hours.
590.004/4-303.11-PF
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Foods and sauces without date marking in production kitchen refrigerator. Provide for all foods held longer than 24 hours.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Build up on walk in cooler doors. Build up on walk in freezer doors. Clean to remove all soils.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Effectiveness-hair restraints (c)
Inspector notes: Employee on production line without hair restraint. Provide.
590.002/2-402.11-C
64
Aug 7, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
(a) gloves use limitation (p)
Inspector notes: Production line employee making raman dish answered cell phone in gloves and did not change gloves after handling the cell phone. Discard gloves and wash hands after changing tasks.
590.003/3-304.15-P
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Uncovered food product in stand up refrigerator. Cover to prevent potential contamination.
590.003/3-302.11-C
82
May 14, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Rodent droppings observed under kitchen area hand sink. Dead roach observed in basement area. Clean to remove. Provide updated pest reports.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker observed expired. Schedule cleaning appointment.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Removing dead or trapped birds insects rodents and other pest (c)
Inspector notes: Dead roaches observed in basement area. Clean to remove all effected areas.
590.006/6-501.112-C
82
Jan 16, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Multiple containers of food observed without date marking. Provide.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Miscellaneous sources of contamination (c)
Inspector notes: Observed prepped vegetables stored on top of grease trap. Person in charge removed.
590.003/3-307.11-C
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)
Inspector notes: Multiple containers of foods observed uncovered. Provide cover to prevent potential contamination.
590.003/3-302.11-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hoods filters observed with heavy grease and dust build up. Clean to remove.
590.004/4-202.18-C
Temperature measuring devices-functionality (c)
Inspector notes: Beverage cooler in server area does not have thermometer. Provide.
590.004/4-204.112-C
74
Sep 14, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Raw chicken stored above ready to eat foods in refrigerator. Corrected on site. Ensure raw meat is stored below rady to eat foods.
590.003/3-302.11-P
Common name-working containers (pf)
Inspector notes: Unlabeled spray bottle with pink chemical. Label all chemical containers to prevent contamination
590.007/7-102.11-PF
Removing dead or trapped birds insects rodents and other pest (c)
Inspector notes: Dead rat in basement under dry storage shelf. Discard dead pests to prevent contamination
590.006/6-501.112-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Leak under dish station sink. Repair as needed
590.005/5-205.15-C
70
Apr 7, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Containers of raw chicken stored above cases of prepared bamboo in walk-in cooler. Corrected on site. Store raw meat below ready to eat foods.
590.003/3-302.11-P
Controlling pests (c)
Inspector notes: Rat droppings under shelves in basement. Clean and monitor for activity. Current Ecolab pest report does not indicate activity
590.006/6-501.111-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: Soiled wiping cloths in kitchen on counter. Store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution to prevent cross contamination.
590.003/3-304.14-C
78
Oct 27, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Controlling pests (pf)
Inspector notes: Rat droppings in basement under stairs around base of mixer behind water heaters and in rear storage room. Clean and monitor areas for activity. Refer to Ecolab pest control for plan to control rats.
590.006/6-501.111-PF
Removing dead or trapped birds insects rodents and other pest (c)
Inspector notes: Glue traps in basement with dead roaches. Discard regularly.
590.006/6-501.112-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Shelf above stove with carbon build-up. Clean to avoid contamination of ramen base in pots under shelf.
590.004/4-602.13-C
In-use utensils between-use storage (c)
Inspector notes: Rice spoon stored in 72F water. Store clean and dry or in water above 135F.
590.003/3-304.12-C
78
Apr 11, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Bags of cooked chicken from previous day without date marking. Date prepped foods held over 254 hours.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Removing dead or trapped birds insects rodents and other pest (c)
Inspector notes: Fly strips in basement with dead flies. Discard fly strips frequently to prevent build-up of dead insects.
590.006/6-501.112-C
Storage or display of food in contact with water or ice (c)
Inspector notes: Bean sprouts stored in water. Storage in water increases possible bacterial growth. Water discarded by PIC.
590.003/3-303.12-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Containers of spices stored on back stairs: dried parsley panko. Store food off the floor to prevent possible contamination.
590.003/3-305.11-C
(b) cooling methods (c)
Inspector notes: Chicken stock cooling in covered plastic 5 gallon bucket at 136F. Transfer to shallow metal pans to cool rapidly and in the correct amount of time.
590.003/3-501.15-C
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Food and debris under kitchen cookline refrigeration and cold storage for cookline. Clean all floors to avoid attracting pests. Floor in basement under and behond equipment with debris and rat droippings. clean and monitor for activity.
590.004/4-602.13-C
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Waku Waku last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Waku Waku on file is from Sep 24, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Waku Waku?
Across the inspection record, “ready-to-eat time/temperature control” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Waku Waku.
How does Waku Waku compare to other restaurants in Boston?
Waku Waku most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Boston average of 86.
Has Waku Waku's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Waku Waku have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Waku Waku means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Waku Waku inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Waku Waku is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants