Sesame
#103 6111 University Blvd, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1 · Food Service Establishment 1
Inspection summary
Sesame has been inspected 18 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since June 15, 2021. The most recent inspection, on September 18, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
5 of 18 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 16 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food temperature control and Cleaning and sanitizing.
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.
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 9 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on September 1, 2026. For example:
Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
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 6 separate inspections, most recently on November 14, 2025. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
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 8 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on September 1, 2026. For example:
The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
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 7 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on November 14, 2025. For example:
Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on September 18, 2026. For example:
The premises is free of pests.
About this data
These results come from Vancouver Coastal Health, 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
- Routine Follow-up
2 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Premises is not designed and/or supplied with equipment that will ensure the safe and sanitary handling of food.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
4 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Premises is not in adequate repair.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine Follow-up
1 infraction
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Routine
9 infractions
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Premises is not in adequate repair or in sanitary condition.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
- Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not cooled using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Employees are not washing hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- Operator of a food service establishment has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
4 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is in contact with corrosive or toxic materials.
- Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
8 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
- Potentially hazardous food is cooled in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not cooled using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution concentration is too high.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Employees are not washing hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Procedures in the food safety plan are not being followed.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- A food service establishment must have written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
- Sanitizer levels are not being monitored and recorded.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
2 infractions
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- No employee present holds a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate while the Owner/Operator is absent.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- Routine
7 infractions
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- No employee present holds a valid FOODSAFE or equivalent certificate while the Owner/Operator is absent.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a hot holding temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- Procedures in the food safety plan are not being followed.
- A Certified food safety training course has been taken by the operator and food handlers of the food service establishment.
- Routine
2 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is stored in a manner that promotes cross contamination.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a hot holding temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored or displayed at 60°C or above.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is not properly covered and protected from contamination.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
2 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Food is not properly covered and protected from contamination.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing station is obstructed or being used for other purposes.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Request
9 infractions
- COVID-19 Safety Plan developed and in use
- COVID-19 Safety Plan contains the maximum number of patron count
- Maximum number of patrons allows for 2m separation between patrons of different parties at all times
- Maximum of 6 patrons per table
- Where partitions are in use, they are positioned such that droplet transmission is blocked
- Operator assessed their premises and taken steps to prevent congregation of patrons near or outside their premises
- Physical devices or markers are used to assist patrons in maintaining physical distance
- Self-service areas equipped with hand washing or alcohol-based sanitizer in easy reach
- Daily worker health check in place
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