POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP
1208 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)
Inspection summary
POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP has been inspected 32 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since November 9, 2012. The most recent inspection, on September 14, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
24 of 32 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 1 infraction 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 9 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on September 14, 2026. For example:
2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (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 once on April 3, 2018. For example:
3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
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 once on November 9, 2012. For example:
3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during ...
Permits, records and postingLower risk
Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.
Recorded once on November 9, 2012. For example:
5000 - Posting of permit; mobile establishment name...
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.
32 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- RED
- 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- 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
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during ...
- BLUE
- 5000 - Posting of permit; mobile establishment name...
- BLUE
- 2900 - Adequate equipment for temperature control
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during ...
Nearby inspected facilities
- TOP POT DOUGHNUTS
1206 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104
14 inspections
- JIMMY JOHN'S GOURMET SANDWICHES
1221 MADISON ST, Seattle, WA 98104
28 inspections
- PIROSHKI@SWEDISH CANCER INST
1219 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104
49 inspections
- BLUE WATER TACO GRILL
1213 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104
54 inspections
- UNIVERSITY CLUB
1004 BOREN AVE, Seattle, WA 98104
44 inspections
- SUBWAY 26999
1105 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104
5 inspections
- STARBUCKS COFFEE #112
1101 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104
32 inspections
- GYRO SAJ
1301 MADISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98104
11 inspections