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Mr. Gao Chinese Restaurant

1561 Main St. W., Hamilton ON L8S 1E6 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

Mr. Gao Chinese Restaurant has been inspected 11 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since June 8, 2022. The most recent inspection, on October 2, 2026, found no infractions.

2 of 11 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 15 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 9 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on September 11, 2026. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

  • 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 August 25, 2025. For example: Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 11, 2026. For example: Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less

  • 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 November 6, 2024. For example: Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 6 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 11, 2026. For example: Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat

About this data

These results come from City of Hamilton Public Health Services, 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.

11 inspections

  1. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Routine Inspection

    9 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Single service containers and articles kept free from contamination
      • Maintain single service containers and articles free from contamination
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
      • Maintain and arrange appliances to permit a clean and sanitary condition
      • Remove all materials not associated with the daily operation of the premises
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Maintain ventilation system in manner not permitting health hazard
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  3. Routine Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Single service containers and articles kept free from contamination
      • Maintain single service containers and articles free from contamination
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Maintain ventilation system in manner not permitting health hazard
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  4. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • Illumination maintained in food premise as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
      • Fail to provide required illumination during all hours of operation
  5. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
  6. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
      • Provide tightly sealed entrances and / or screened entrances to prevent the entry of insects, birds, rodents, and other pests
  7. Routine Inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
  9. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
  10. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Equip sanitary facility with single service towels or air dryer
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  11. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning

Nearby inspected facilities

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