[Editor’s note: The report mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on December 3 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.]
The Philadelphia health department carried out several inspections on December 3. Among those, Yi Pin was reported for multiple violations, which resulted in the temporary closure of the establishment.
Yi Pin
- When: December 3, 2025
- Where: 1026 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Yi Pin is a music-themed Szechuan restaurant known for serving dumplings, skewers, soups, and more. According to the inspection report, the restaurant was not compliant with food safety regulations. Among the violations noted were:
- No designated PIC was present at the time of inspection, the report said. A certified PIC arrived during the inspection.
- No employee with a valid Philadelphia Food Safety Certificate was present, though one arrived mid-inspection.
- An open beverage container was found in the prep area, and cigarette waste was seen on the shelves.
- The facility was missing soap, towels, or hot water across the kitchen, bar, and beverage prep sinks, the report said.
- Equipment was stored inside sinks, hot water was turned off, and some sinks lacked soap and towels until replenished during the inspection.
- Raw and ready-to-eat foods were kept in grocery bags, washed in the 3-bay sink, and stored without covers. Raw chicken was placed over vegetables in coolers, the report said.
- Shellstock tags were missing and had not been kept for the required 90 days.
- The report noted personal milk containers stored in the ice machine and shellstock placed next to RTE items.
- Heavy residue was found in the ice machine, and mouse droppings were observed on counters and shelving.
- Cooked beef that had been held over 48 hours lacked required date labels, the report said.
- Pesticides that are not approved for food-facility use were stored in prep and bar areas.
- Bulk ingredient containers were not labeled with common names.
- Widespread evidence of mouse droppings was found throughout the bar, prep, hallway, warewashing, and basement areas, according to the report.
- Items in the walk-in were stored less than 6 inches off the floor.
- Knives were seen wedged between table edges, where cleaning is difficult.
- Cardboard- and foil-lined shelves and cutting boards were deeply scored, and non-NSF equipment was in use across food prep and bar areas, as per the report.
- The food facility lacked sanitizer test strips to monitor sanitizer concentration.
- Prep units, gaskets, refrigerators, shelving, and floors had accumulated grime, debris, and mouse droppings, the report said.
- Hot water was unavailable at the bar hand sink until it was turned back on during inspection.
- The restroom did not have lidded receptacles for the disposal of sanitary napkins/items.
- The report noted uncovered outdoor receptacles, rather than proper tight-fitting lids, doors, or covers.
- Damaged floors, cracked tiles, broken coving, unnecessary clutter, stains on ceilings, and idle tools and mops left on the floor were observed throughout multiple areas.
The full inspection report is available online.
Follow-up Inspection
According to the report summary, the routine check revealed that the restaurant is not satisfactory in compliance. The restaurant was ordered to close temporarily due to the noted health hazards and resume operations after a reinspection and payment of fees.
The restaurant can request a reinspection from the health department once it has corrected all the violations. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of the health license and other legal action.
