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BLUE HERON CAFE INC.

4001 GILMAN AVE W, Seattle, WA 98199 · Restaurant (Seating 0-12)

Inspection summary

BLUE HERON CAFE INC. has been inspected 49 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since March 23, 2006. The most recent inspection, on January 9, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

18 of 49 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 26 times across 22 separate inspections, most recently on September 8, 2025. For example: 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

  • 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 14 times across 12 separate inspections, most recently on May 2, 2023. For example: 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

  • 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 12 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on January 9, 2026. For example: 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

  • 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on April 9, 2013. For example: 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 24, 2014. For example: 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...

About this data

These results come from Public Health – Seattle & King County, 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.

49 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
  2. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1000 - Food in good condition, safe and unadulterated; approved additives
      • RED
  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods
      • RED
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available
      • RED
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  9. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  10. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  11. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  13. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  14. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  15. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
      • RED
  16. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  17. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
      • BLUE
  19. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  20. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
      • RED
  21. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  22. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  23. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  24. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  25. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  26. Consultation/Education - Field

    3 infractions

    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
  27. Return Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  28. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 0500 - Proper methods used to prevent bare hand...
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  29. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  30. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  31. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  32. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  33. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  34. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  35. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  36. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  37. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  38. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  39. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  40. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  41. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • Raw meats below and away from RTE food
      • RED
  42. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  43. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  44. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
    • Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  45. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  46. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • Raw meats below and away from RTE food
      • RED
    • Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  47. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  48. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  49. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • Toxic substances properly identified,...
      • RED

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