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Wass Ethiopian Restaurant

207 James St S, Hamilton ON L8P 3A8 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

Wass Ethiopian Restaurant has been inspected 12 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since September 23, 2022. The most recent inspection, on April 30, 2026, found no infractions.

2 of 12 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 9 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 9 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on April 28, 2026. For example: Testing reagent used to determine concentration of 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on December 9, 2025. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

  • 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on December 9, 2025. For example: Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer

  • 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 April 28, 2026. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on December 9, 2025. For example: Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers

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.

12 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Routine Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide hot and cold running water for hand washing in food preparation area
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
      • Provide soap in a dispenser at hand basin in the food preparation area
      • Provide hot and cold running water under pressure
    • 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
      • Remove all materials not associated with the daily operation of the premises
    • 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
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Ensure clean wash / rinse water is provided
      • Ensure hot water sanitizer is at 77°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Ensure manual dishwashing includes the three steps: wash, rinse, and sanitize
      • Ensure wash / rinse water is at 43°C or greater
      • Provide sufficient detergent or chemicals for washing or sanitizing
    • Food processed in a safe manner
  3. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Ensure wash water is between 60°C and 71°C
  5. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
  6. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • 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
  7. Routine Inspection

    5 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
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Equip sanitary facility with liquid soap in a dispenser
    • Food in storage protected from contamination
      • Ensure racks, shelves or pallets are clean and designed to protect against contamination
  8. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
  9. Routine Inspection

    7 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  10. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Either mechanical or manual dishwashing is provided
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
  11. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
  12. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Maintain hand washing stations with adequate supplies
    • Illumination maintained in food premise as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code)
      • Fail to provide required illumination during all hours of operation
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise

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