How Grading Works in King County.

Start with the Local Scale

King County (including Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, and Renton) scores inspections with points, and a LOWER score is better. Red violations are the most serious food-safety risks; blue violations are less serious maintenance and sanitation items. Each inspection is marked Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.

A Score is Not Universal

Never compare results between cities. Some departments add points for violations, others use pass/fail, and a lower score can mean a better result.

Read Beyond the Latest Result

Check the inspection date, each recorded violation, and any follow-up inspection. Closures and re-inspections are labeled in each restaurant’s history.

What's Covered Here

This page covers restaurants and other food-service businesses inspected under Public Health – Seattle & King County's restaurant program. Small markets, bodegas, and corner stores that sell food are usually inspected under a separate retail food program, which most areas don't publish as open records. If a store you're looking for doesn't turn up in search, that's the most common reason — it may be a real, licensed business that simply isn't part of this particular inspection program.