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MASSAWA ERITRIAN & ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

4411 S MEAD ST S, SEATTLE, WA 98118 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)

Inspection summary

MASSAWA ERITRIAN & ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT has been inspected 16 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since April 27, 2019. The most recent inspection, on July 9, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

4 of 16 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 13 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on July 9, 2026. For example: 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used

  • 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 8 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2025. For example: 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))

  • 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 8 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on August 8, 2024. For example: 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities

  • 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 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on August 8, 2024. For example: 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated

  • 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 January 11, 2022. For example: 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled

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.

16 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
  2. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 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
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
      • RED
  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
      • RED
  5. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    11 infractions

    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
      • BLUE
    • 0100 - PIC present, demonstrates knowledge and performs duties to maintain AMC; certified manager on staff unless exempt
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
    • 1300 - Food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized; no cross contamination
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods
      • RED
    • 2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
      • RED
  7. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    9 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 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
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 0100 - PIC present, demonstrates knowledge and performs duties to maintain AMC; certified manager on staff unless exempt
      • RED
    • 2000 - Proper reheating procedures for hot holding
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
    • 2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
      • RED
  9. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
  10. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  11. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    7 infractions

    • 3200 - Insects, rodents, animals not present; entrance controlled
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 0500 - Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods
      • RED
  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  13. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  14. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
      • RED
    • 2300 - Proper Consumer Advisory posted for raw ...
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  15. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  16. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

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