Wok Express
651 UPPER JAMES ST, Bldg B1, HAMILTON · Restaurant
Inspection summary
Wok Express has been inspected 17 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since January 13, 2022. The most recent inspection, on September 28, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
3 of 17 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 11 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination 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.
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 14 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on September 28, 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 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on November 19, 2025. For example:
Food protected from contamination or adulteration
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 24, 2025. For example:
Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
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 once on February 6, 2026. For example:
Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
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 once on February 21, 2024. 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.
17 inspections
- Routine Inspection
1 infraction
- 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)
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Routine Inspection
5 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
- Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred
- Clean and sanitize multi-service articles after each use and as often as necessary
- Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces or equipment as often as necessary
- Certified food handler present in the food service premise
- Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Ensure ventilation system/exhaust hood/filters/canopy is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
- 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
- Remove all materials not associated with the daily operation of the premises
- Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- 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 in good repair
- Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- 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
- 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
- Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
- Routine Inspection
2 infractions
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
- 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
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- 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
- Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
- Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
- Ensure food handlers confine hair while handling food
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
- 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 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
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection
10 infractions
- The premises is operated and maintained free from potential/immediate health hazards
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests
- Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
- Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
- Routine Inspection
3 infractions
- Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
- Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
- 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
- Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
- Routine Inspection
4 infractions
- 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 in good repair
- 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
- 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
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Cover all food in storage
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- 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 of sound and tight construction
- Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Cover all food in storage
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
- Routine Inspection
0 infractions
- Re-inspection
0 infractions
- Routine 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
- Ensure floors 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 are of sound and tight construction
- 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
- Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
- 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
- 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
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed