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Pho Excellent

1122 Main St W, Hamilton ON L8S 1C1 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

Pho Excellent has been inspected 18 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since January 21, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 4, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

4 of 18 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 11 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 10 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on March 4, 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 9 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on August 4, 2026. For example: Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 28, 2025. 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 27, 2023. For example: Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests

  • 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 once on March 4, 2026. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

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.

18 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
  2. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  3. 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
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide hot and cold running water under pressure
    • 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
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
    • 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
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Ensure manual dishwashing includes the three steps: wash, rinse, and sanitize
    • Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
      • Store toxic/poisonous substances in container bearing identifying labels
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Equip sanitary facility with liquid soap in a dispenser
      • Equip sanitary facility with single service towels or air dryer
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
  4. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
  6. Routine Inspection

    2 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
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
  7. 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 in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
  8. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
  9. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food processed in a safe manner
  10. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
  11. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 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
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • 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
  12. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
  13. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
    • Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
  14. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  15. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
  16. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 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 food contact equipment and utensils are corrosion-resistant and non-toxic
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
  17. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  18. Complaint

    7 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
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • 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
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
    • 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
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
      • Store and handle ice in a sanitary manner
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure food handlers wash hands as often as necessary

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