Chance Cafe
3424 Commercial St, Vancouver BC V5N 2E9 · Food Service Establishment 1
Inspection summary
Chance Cafe has been inspected 18 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since September 14, 2017. The most recent inspection, on September 8, 2026, found no infractions.
10 of 18 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
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 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on September 2, 2026. 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 14, 2022. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 14, 2022. For example:
Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
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 once on May 6, 2024. For example:
The premises is free of pests.
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 once on September 14, 2017. For example:
Each employee 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.
18 inspections
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Construction or alteration have occurred without approval.
- 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.
- 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.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
2 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Premises is not in adequate repair or in sanitary condition.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution concentration is too high.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
4 infractions
- The Permit to Operate a food service establishment is valid and is posted in a conspicuous location.
- Permit to Operate is not posted in a conspicuous location.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution concentration is too high.
- 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.
- Test strips are not available to monitor sanitizer level.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- The Permit to Operate a food service establishment is valid and is posted in a conspicuous location.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
4 infractions
- Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not cooled using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a hot holding temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored or displayed at 60°C or above.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- 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.
- Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
4 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Mechanical dishwasher/glasswasher does not provide sufficient washing and/or sanitizing action to remove contamination.
- 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.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- 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.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine
2 infractions
- 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.
- 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.
- Routine
2 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine
6 infractions
- The Permit to Operate a food service establishment is valid and is posted in a conspicuous location.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a hot holding temperature that keeps 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.
- Each employee washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- 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.
- A food service establishment must have written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
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