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The Express Restaurant

349 Grays Rd, Hamilton ON L8E 2Z1 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

The Express Restaurant has been inspected 20 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since March 11, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 19, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

None of the 20 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 9 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 16 times across 13 separate inspections, most recently on August 19, 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 16 times across 15 separate inspections, most recently on April 20, 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 9 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on October 30, 2025. For example: Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating

  • 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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on April 23, 2025. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

  • 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 August 20, 2025. For example: Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests

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.

20 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
  2. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
  3. Routine Inspection

    5 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
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • 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
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • Ensure food is held above 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
  4. Routine Inspection

    6 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
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
      • Protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests
      • Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
    • 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
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
    • 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
  5. Re-inspection

    3 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
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Maintain and arrange appliances to permit a clean and sanitary condition
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
  6. Routine Inspection

    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
    • 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 soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Equip sanitary facility with a constant supply of hot and cold running water
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  7. Re-inspection

    2 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
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
  8. Routine Inspection

    5 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
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Maintain and arrange equipment to permit a clean and sanitary condition
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
      • Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
  9. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • 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
  10. Routine Inspection

    6 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
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • 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
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
  11. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • 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
  12. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • 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
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
  13. Re-inspection

    3 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
      • Retain pest control records for one year
      • Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
  14. Routine Inspection

    6 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
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
      • Evidence of minor insect / rodent activity
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
    • Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
  15. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are of sound and tight construction
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
  16. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
  17. Routine Inspection

    5 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
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Provide sufficient detergent or chemicals for washing or sanitizing
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
  18. Re-inspection

    3 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
  19. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • 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 protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
  20. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • 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
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities

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