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PHO LIU RESTAURANT

15220 AMBAUM BL SW, BURIEN, WA 98166 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)

Inspection summary

PHO LIU RESTAURANT has been inspected 31 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since December 16, 2011. The most recent inspection, on October 7, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

15 of 31 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: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing 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.

  • 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 10 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on October 7, 2026. For example: 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

  • 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 7 separate inspections, most recently on August 21, 2023. For example: 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 17, 2025. 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 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 4, 2017. For example: 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 19, 2018. For example: 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...

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.

31 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  2. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 3900 - Single-use and single-service articles properly stored, used
      • BLUE
  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
      • BLUE
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
      • BLUE
    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  9. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  10. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

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

    2 infractions

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
      • RED
  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  13. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  14. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  15. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  16. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  17. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 2800 - Food received at proper temperature
      • BLUE
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
  19. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  20. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  21. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  22. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    10 infractions

    • 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 4600 - Toilet facilities properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
      • BLUE
    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
    • 2500 - Toxic substances properly identified,...
      • RED
  23. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
  24. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  25. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  26. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  27. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  28. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  29. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  30. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  31. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

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