ZAY ZAMAN RESTAURANT
#309 Lancaster St. W, Kitchener ON N2H 4V4 · Facility
Inspection summary
ZAY ZAMAN RESTAURANT has been inspected 6 times by Region of Waterloo Public Health since January 14, 2025. The most recent inspection, on August 20, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 15 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 findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for your health. 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 and supplies are stored and handled: kept covered, off the floor, and away from anything that could contaminate them. Where food is served, raw meat must be kept away from ready-to-eat food, a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on August 20, 2026. For example:
Food protected from contamination or adulteration
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 20, 2026. For example:
Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Inspectors check that anything that has to be kept at a set temperature, such as chilled or hot food, or equipment like sterilizers, stays in its safe range and that accurate thermometers are on hand. With food, temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 19, 2026. For example:
Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are one of the main ways germs spread, from person to person and onto food and surfaces. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing their hands when required, and sick staff being kept away from work where it matters. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 19, 2026. For example:
Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Many jurisdictions require a trained or certified person on site, such as a certified food handler. These findings mean the training record or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean anything was handled unsafely.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 23, 2026. For example:
Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
About this data
These results come from Region of Waterloo Public 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.
6 inspections
- Compliance Inspection
2 infractions
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
- Handle raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods, on separate preparation surfaces, and with separate utensils to prevent contamination
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
- Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Re-inspection
3 infractions
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Provide hand washing basin in food preparation area
- Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
- Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Compliance Inspection
6 infractions
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
- 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
- Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
- Provide hand washing basin in food preparation area
- 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 and maintained
- 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
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Compliance Inspection
4 infractions
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and 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
- 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
- Certified food handler present in the food service premise
- Ensure a food handler or supervisor, who is a certified food handler, is present during all hours of operation
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Compliance Inspection
4 infractions
- Food processed in a safe manner
- Process food in a manner to ensure it is safe to eat
- Maintenance of sanitary facilities
- Equip sanitary facility with single service towels or air dryer
- Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
- 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
- Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
- Food processed in a safe manner
- Compliance Inspection
2 infractions
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
- Protect food from contamination and adulteration
- Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
- Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
- Food protected from contamination or adulteration
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