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MESKEL ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

2605 E CHERRY ST, SEATTLE, WA 98122 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)

Inspection summary

MESKEL ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT has been inspected 42 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since February 28, 2006. The most recent inspection, on September 17, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

22 of 42 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control 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.

  • 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 13 separate inspections, most recently on September 17, 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 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on March 2, 2023. For example: 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods

  • 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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on March 8, 2024. 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 25, 2014. For example: 0400 - Hands washed as required

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 8 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on March 2, 2023. For example: 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained

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.

42 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
      • BLUE
    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
  2. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

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

    0 infractions

  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used to evaluate temperature of TCS foods
      • RED
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  9. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  10. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  11. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
  13. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  14. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

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

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
  16. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
  17. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  19. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  20. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  21. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4300 - Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
  22. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  23. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  24. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  25. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  26. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  27. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  28. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  29. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  30. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
  31. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  32. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  33. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  34. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  35. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • Proper Consumer Advisory posted for raw ...
      • RED
    • Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  36. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  37. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • Proper Consumer Advisory posted for raw ...
      • RED
    • Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  38. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • Garbage, refuse properly disposed; facilities...
      • BLUE
    • Posting of permit; mobile establishment name...
      • BLUE
    • Proper hot holding temperatures (less than 130° F )
      • RED
  39. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  40. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  41. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  42. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

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