Inspections
Restaurant Health Inspections
Look up official health inspection results for any restaurant. Search 321K+ restaurants across 16 US cities with 1.5M+ inspection records from city and county health departments.
Free inspection scores and pass/fail results. Updated daily from official government data portals.
Browse by City
Select a city to search restaurants, view inspection scores, and read violation details.
Browse by State
Statewide inspection databases covering every licensed restaurant.
What Are Restaurant Health Inspections?
Restaurant health inspections are routine evaluations conducted by local health departments to ensure restaurants, cafes, bars, and food trucks meet food safety standards. Inspectors evaluate everything from food storage temperatures and kitchen cleanliness to pest control and employee hygiene practices.
In the United States, health inspections are required by law. Most cities inspect restaurants 1 to 3 times per year, with additional inspections triggered by consumer complaints. All inspection results are public record and available through open data portals.
Rat Radar collects these public records from 16 cities and presents them in a searchable, easy-to-understand format so you can check any restaurant before you eat there.
What Inspectors Check
Food temperatures, cross-contamination controls, handwashing stations, pest evidence, equipment sanitation, food labeling and storage, and employee health compliance.
Critical vs. Non-Critical
Critical violations (improper temps, pests, contamination) pose immediate health risk and must be fixed on the spot. Non-critical violations (minor cleanliness, signage) get a correction deadline.
Inspection Frequency
Most restaurants are inspected 1 to 3 times annually. High-risk establishments and those with prior violations are inspected more often. Complaints can trigger unscheduled inspections.
How Restaurant Grading Works
Every city grades restaurants differently. Here is how the major systems work.
Letter Grades (A/B/C)
Used by New York City, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Restaurants earn a letter grade based on a numeric violation point score. An A means fewer than 14 points (NYC) or 90+ score (LA/SD).
NYC, Los Angeles, San Diego
Pass / Fail
Used by most cities. Restaurants either pass or fail based on the severity of violations found. Failed restaurants must correct violations and pass a re-inspection before reopening.
Boston, Seattle, San Jose, Cincinnati
Pass / Conditional / Fail
A middle ground. Conditional pass means violations were found that need follow-up correction but the restaurant can remain open. Used in several California and Midwest cities.
Chicago, San Francisco, Florida
Official Data Sources
All inspection data comes directly from government health departments. Nothing is fabricated or estimated.
City Health Departments
- Official inspection records from 16 cities
- Daily and weekly syncs from open data portals
- Pass/fail outcomes, violation types, and severity
- Historical records going back to 2006 in some cities
Data You Can Trust
- 100% government-sourced, no user-submitted reviews
- Normalized across different city grading systems
- Cross-referenced with 311 pest complaint data
- Independent service, not affiliated with any restaurant
Why Check Health Inspections?
Before Dining Out
Check a restaurant's inspection history before your next meal. See if they've had pest violations, temperature issues, or repeated failures.
Ordering Delivery
Delivery apps don't show health scores. Look up the restaurant on Rat Radar before you order to make sure it meets your standards.
Moving to a New City
Explore the food safety landscape in your new neighborhood. See which areas have the highest pass rates and cleanest restaurants.
Real Estate Research
Restaurant inspection data correlates with neighborhood quality. High violation areas often have broader maintenance and infrastructure issues.
Journalism & Research
Researchers and journalists use health inspection data to identify trends, investigate food safety patterns, and hold establishments accountable.
Restaurant Owners
Monitor your own inspection record and see how you compare to nearby competitors. Track improvements over time and build trust with customers.
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Restaurant Health Inspection FAQ
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