Skip to content
Loading map…

KATHAKALI

11451 98TH AVE NE, KIRKLAND, WA 98033 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)

Inspection summary

KATHAKALI has been inspected 19 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since May 5, 2017. The most recent inspection, on August 25, 2026, found no infractions.

5 of 19 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. 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.

  • 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 22 times across 13 separate inspections, most recently on April 3, 2025. For example: 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))

  • 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 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on June 21, 2022. 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 March 28, 2024. For example: 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 24, 2025. For example: 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 24, 2025. For example: 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

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.

19 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  2. Educational Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 2600 - Compliance with valid permit; operating and risk control plans, and required written procedures
      • RED
  7. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Return Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  9. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    7 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
      • BLUE
    • 0900 - Proper washing of fruits and vegetables
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time as a control, procedures available
      • RED
  10. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  11. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130 to 134 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (54 to 56 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  12. Return Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  13. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    7 infractions

    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
    • 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than130 degrees)
      • RED
  14. Return Inspection

    1 infraction

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

    7 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  16. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  17. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    5 infractions

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  19. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website