The Philadelphia Department of Health’s Office of Food Protection conducts regular health inspections throughout the city. On Monday, June 2, 2025, during a range of these checks, one restaurant in the city was cited for their health inspections on various grounds.
Please note that the report mentioned here is from inspections conducted on June 2 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.
Highlights
- On June 2, 2025, one Philadelphia restaurant was cited for violations during its routine health inspections.
- Bubble Tea Room had a range of violations, such as the presence of pests, defective equipment use, and clutter.
- A follow-up will be conducted soon by the health inspectors.
Bubble Tea Room
- When: June 2, 2025
- Where: 319 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Bubble Tea Room is an Asian restaurant on Market Street serving sushi, pizza rolls, and a variety of teas. During the June 2 inspection by the Philadelphia Department of Health, the establishment was found to have multiple food safety violations.
Violations at the Restaurant
The inspectors noted several food safety violations that could pose health risks. Ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler were not date-marked. This meant that there was no way to tell how long the items had been stored, making it a food safety concern.
Additionally, the restaurant did not follow approved procedures for storing sushi rice. No pH logs were maintained. The pH meter was also found to be broken. This could pose a food safety issue since sushi rice stored at room temperature requires strict controls to ensure that there is no bacterial growth.
The inspectors also noted that there was mouse feces in multiple areas of the eatery, such as the dining room, storage areas, stairwell, and the basement. Fruit flies were also found in the front prep area.
Additionally, the bleach used by the establishment did not have an EPA registration number, making it an unapproved chemical solution. However, the staff corrected this violation on-site.
It was also noted that the facility had certain gaps and openings under exit doors as well as an open, unscreened front door that could make way for pest entry. The eatery also had a host of defective equipment such as a broken freezer that was being used as a table, an unused ice maker, a non-NSF/ANSI-approved microwave and rice cooker, and an unsealed 3-compartment sink that leaked. Furthermore, certain equipment also had grease and soil buildup. The walk-in cooler shelves also had rust and debris on them.
The inspection report also highlighted the fact that single-use utensils were stored directly on the floors, and plastic containers without handles were being used to scoop up bulk ingredients. The wiping cloths were also damp and left on top of the equipment instead of the sanitizing solution.
Other sanitation issues included dust buildup on ventilation covers and inadequate lighting in the walk-in cooler and freezer. There were uncovered trash bags in the refuse area and grease buildup in the grease trap from lack of cleaning. Certain unused cleaning tools, such as the broom, dustpan, and mop were also not stored on proper racks.
Follow-Up Requirements
The facility has not been closed. Nevertheless, it is required to address all outlined violations that were not corrected on-site. After that, the health department will reinspect the premises to ensure compliance. Furthermore, if the follow-up inspections do not show adequate correction of all violations, the restaurant may face closure or legal action.
