The Express Restaurant
1034 King St W, Hamilton ON L8S 1L5 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
The Express Restaurant has been inspected 13 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since December 15, 2022. The most recent inspection, on July 2, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
3 of 13 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 8 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.
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.
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 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on May 13, 2026. For example:
Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 2, 2026. For example:
Single service containers and articles kept free from 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 May 26, 2025. For example:
Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
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 July 2, 2026. For example:
Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
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 once on May 13, 2026. For example:
Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
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.
13 inspections
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Single service containers and articles kept free from contamination
- Maintain single service containers and articles free from contamination
- 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
- Single service containers and articles kept free from contamination
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
5 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure ceilings are kept clean and in good repair
- Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
- Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
- 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
- Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
- Ensure wash water is between 60°C and 71°C
- Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
- Ensure food handlers confine hair while handling food
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
1 infraction
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Complaint
1 infraction
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- 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 are cleaned and sanitized
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Contact licensed pest control operator for insect / rodent / pest treatment and control
- Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred
- Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
- Store toxic/poisonous substances in compartment away from food or food working surfaces or utensils
- Routine Inspection
1 infraction
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- 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
- Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
- Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
- 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
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Cover all food in storage
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
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