Skip to content
Loading map…

Argo Cafe

1836 Ontario St, Vancouver BC V5T 2W6 · Food Service Establishment 1

Official record from Vancouver Coastal →

Inspection summary

Argo Cafe has been inspected 24 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since January 21, 2016. The most recent inspection, on May 29, 2026, found no infractions.

8 of 24 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.

The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 12 times across 10 separate inspections, most recently on June 12, 2025. For example: The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on July 10, 2025. For example: Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on July 10, 2025. For example: Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on June 16, 2021. For example: The premises is free of pests.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 4, 2024. For example: Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.

About this data

These results come from Vancouver Coastal Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

24 inspections

  1. Routine

    0 infractions

  2. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  3. Routine Follow-up

    3 infractions

    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
    • Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not cooled from 60°C to 21°C within two hours, and then from 21°C to 4°C within four hours.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not cooled using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
    • Operator of a food service establishment has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
      • Food safety plan is not developed.
  4. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
  5. Routine

    5 infractions

    • Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
    • Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
    • Chemicals, cleansers and similar agents are kept separate from food.
  6. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  7. Routine

    5 infractions

    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is stored in a manner that promotes cross contamination.
    • Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not cooled from 60°C to 21°C within two hours, and then from 21°C to 4°C within four hours.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
      • Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
  8. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
  9. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
      • Wiping cloths are not clean, restricted in use and/or stored in approved sanitizing solution.
  10. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  11. Routine

    4 infractions

    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
      • Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
    • A food service establishment must have written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
      • Sanitizer levels are not being monitored and recorded.
    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  12. Routine

    1 infraction

    • A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
  13. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  14. Routine

    3 infractions

    • A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
    • Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
      • Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
  15. Routine

    1 infraction

    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
  16. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  17. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is stored in a manner that promotes cross contamination.
      • Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
  18. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  19. Routine

    2 infractions

    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment or materials not required for the operation are stored on the premises.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained in a sanitary condition.
  20. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
  21. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
      • Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of a rodent infestation.
  22. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  23. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • The premises is free of pests.
  24. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
      • There is inadequate lighting and/or ventilation on the premises.
    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is stored in a manner that promotes cross contamination.
      • Food is not properly covered and protected from contamination.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
      • Mechanical dishwasher does not provide sufficient washing and/or sanitizing action to remove contamination.
    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of a rodent infestation.

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website