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The Poke Guy

420 Richards St, Vancouver BC V6B 2Z3 · Food Service Establishment 1

Official record from Vancouver Coastal →

Inspection summary

The Poke Guy has been inspected 17 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since January 13, 2021. The most recent inspection, on July 10, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

7 of 17 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Cleaning and sanitizing and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

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.

  • 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 7, 2025. For example: The premises is free of pests.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 10, 2022. 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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 10, 2022. For example: Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.

  • 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 10, 2022. For example: Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.

  • 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 November 10, 2022. For example: Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.

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.

17 inspections

  1. Routine

    1 infraction

    • The Permit to Operate a food service establishment is valid and is posted in a conspicuous location.
  2. Routine

    1 infraction

    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  3. Routine

    0 infractions

  4. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  5. Routine

    1 infraction

    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  6. Routine

    0 infractions

  7. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  8. Routine

    7 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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 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.
  9. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  10. Routine

    5 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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 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.
      • Test strips are not available to monitor sanitizer level.
  11. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  12. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
  13. Routine

    1 infraction

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
  14. Request Follow-up

    5 infractions

    • COVID-19 Safety Plan developed and in use
    • COVID-19 Safety Plan contains the maximum number of patron count
    • Maximum number of patrons that can be accommodated on the premises has been determined
    • 2m separation maintained between patrons of different parties, except when partition in place
    • Physical devices or markers are used to assist patrons in maintaining physical distance
  15. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  16. Routine

    5 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  17. Request

    8 infractions

    • COVID-19 Safety Plan developed and in use
    • COVID-19 Safety Plan contains the maximum number of patron count
    • Maximum number of patrons that can be accommodated on the premises has been determined
    • 2m separation maintained between patrons of different parties, except when partition in place
    • Maximum of 6 patrons per table
    • No events over 50 people on premises
    • Physical devices or markers are used to assist patrons in maintaining physical distance
    • Background music is no louder than the volume of normal conversation

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