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Food Take Out · Waterloo Region, ON

Penny's Hot Chicken

253 King St N

Last inspected Feb 19, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Infractions found

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Repeat problemsSerious findings or closures appear in two or more of the last three inspections. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

7 inspections

Compliance Inspection

Feb 19, 2026

Infractions found

2 recorded violations

minorCode —Facility maintenance

Official wording

Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards, Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Feb 19, 2026 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Nov 20, 2025

Infractions found

6 recorded violations

criticalCode —Contamination

Official wording

Food protected from contamination or adulteration

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Protect food from contamination and adulteration

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards, Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair, Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4�C (40�F) or less

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
minorCode —Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils do so in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Ensure food handlers wash hands as often as necessary

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Nov 20, 2025 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Jul 21, 2025

Infractions found

3 recorded violations

criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4�C (40�F) or less

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards, Ensure ceilings are kept clean and in good repair, Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair, Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

Inspector’s notes

Corrected During Inspection: Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Jul 21, 2025 · Original Source

Re-inspection

Feb 4, 2025

No violations found

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Feb 4, 2025 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Jan 27, 2025

Re-inspection required

3 recorded violations

minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
minorCode —Facility maintenance

Official wording

Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards, Ensure ceilings are kept clean and in good repair, Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Jan 27, 2025 · Original Source

Re-inspection

Jul 17, 2024

No violations found

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Jul 17, 2024 · Original Source

Compliance Inspection

Jul 16, 2024

Re-inspection required

3 recorded violations

minorCode —Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
criticalCode —Other

Official wording

Food is held at 4�C (40�F) or less

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4�C (40�F) or less

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
criticalCode —Contamination

Official wording

Food protected from contamination or adulteration

Inspector’s notes

Not in Compliance: Protect food from contamination and adulteration, Cover all food in storage, Store food off the floor to prevent contamination

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination

Official record from Region of Waterloo Public Health (Check It! We Inspect It.), Jul 16, 2024 · Original Source

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