The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department recently concluded routine inspections of two popular restaurant chains within the food court of Charleston Town Center—Chick-fil-A and China Max. The April 30 and May 1 inspections revealed several health code violations. Although the findings were not severe enough to warrant closure, both restaurants received notice that the issues must be addressed on-site. The establishments have follow-up inspections scheduled in mid-May, but both remain open with active food permits.
Please note that the scores mentioned here are from a particular inspection conducted on May 1 and April 30, respectively, and may not represent the future health inspection status of the establishments.
Highlights
- Chick-fil-A was inspected on May 1, 2025 and cited for four violations. Reinspection will be conducted on May 15.
- China Max was inspected on April 30, 2025 and cited for ten violations. Reinspection will be conducted on May 14.
- The two sites are still active with valid permits and outstanding follow-up evaluation.
Two Restaurants in Charleston Were Noted with Violations
Chick-fil-A had four items in violation, both Priority Foundation and Core concerns. (Source: Google Reviews)
When: Chick-fil-A, Charleston Town Center
Where: May 1, 2025
Violations Documented of Chick-fil-A
Individuals in charge lacked food handler cards on file. No manager was found to be holding a valid KCHD manager’s card. The reach-in cooler beside the registers was in poor condition. Lighting inside the walk-in cooler did not work properly. Moreover, the walk-in cooler was not holding temperatures necessary, cooling only to 50°F. All violations were recorded to be addressed. Follow-up inspection is on May 15, 2025.
Health Inspection Findings: China Max
China Max had ten violations, one Priority Foundation, and nine Core issues. (Source: Google Reviews)
- When: China Max, Charleston Town Center
- Where: April 30, 2025
Violations Recorded in China Max
The Person in Charge did not have a food handler card available to employees during the inspection. No certified on-site food protection manager or certifications were available. The microwave was soiled and required cleaning.
Evidence of pest activity was also noted. All shelving within the entire store was not on a regular clean schedule. The sides and bottoms of the equipment had visible levels of debris on them. The walls and floor were extremely dirty and required cleanup. The food preparation area was also noted to be dirty. Inspectors also noted unhygienic hood vent air ducts in need of cleaning.
China Max did not get closed down, but a re-inspection is scheduled for May 14, 2025.
Follow-up Inspection Status
The two restaurants may continue to operate but must show compliance during their next inspections to avoid enforcement action. The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department set the reinspection dates for the two restaurants – China Max is scheduled for May 14, and Chick-fil-A will be reinspected on May 15. Some of the violations had been corrected at the time of the inspection by establishment owners.
The Health Department follows up on local food premises with a routine inspection cycle. Results are posted online and updated in real-time, giving the public quick access to reliable and timely information.,
