FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union issues warning about health code violations and customer complaints at Tim Ho Wan restaurants in U.S.
Las Vegas, Nevada – As another Tim Ho Wan restaurant opens in the U.S. this month, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, the Culinary Union has issued a public warning about health violations and customer complaints at other Tim Ho Wan locations in California, Hawaii, and New York. The Culinary Union has set up a website, www.TimNOwan.org, to let the public review health inspection reports and customer complaints about Tim Ho Wan locations in the U.S.
“The Tim Ho Wan restaurants in the U.S. have received more one-star Yelp reviews than Michelin stars,” said Mary Janet Ramos, a researcher with the Culinary Union. “It's important to note that while the Palms touts that “one of the world’s most affordable Michelin stars arrives at Palms,” none of Palms operations, including the Tim Ho Wan’s in the U.S., has received a Michelin-star rating.”
In July 2019, the Orange County Register reviewed Tim Ho Wan in Irvine, California and rated it with 1-star. The reviewer wrote: “It’s a one-star restaurant – just not the Michelin type.”
Tim Ho Wan restaurants are run by WDI Group, a Japanese restaurant company, and they have been cited for health code violations from New York to Honolulu.
WDI-operated Tim Ho Wan restaurants in the U.S. have violated food and safety code regulations. The Tim Ho Wan East Village in New York City was shut down by the authorities on August 12, 2019 for receiving 47 violation points, including 5 critical ones. Health inspections of this and other WDI-operated Tim Ho Wan locations have found:
- Evidence of mouse activity present “53 fresh mice excreta were observed” throughout the restaurant. (5/25/2018) New York, NY
- “Observed the activity of flies throughout the kitchen area.” (7/16/2019) Irvine, CA
- “Raw shrimp was being stored above cut lettuce in under counter refrigerator, and pork fat being stored above cooked mushrooms.” (9/20/2018), Honolulu, HI
- “Employee used bare hands to cut and plate rice roll before sending out for service.” (9/20/2018), Honolulu, HI
Complete copies of these health inspection reports are available on the www.TimNOwan.org website.
All U.S. Tim Ho Wan locations are operated by WDI International, Inc. a subsidiary of WDI Group, a Japanese company. WDI Group “acquires development rights of beloved restaurant brands and expands them globally.” It operates 187 eateries under brands including Tony Roma’s, Hard Rock Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., California Pizza Kitchen, Sarabeth’s, GEN Korean BBQ, and Tim Ho Wan. None of their operations, including the Tim Ho Wan’s in the U.S., has received a Michelin-star rating. WDI will soon open a new Tim Ho Wan at the Palms after a $3.9 million construction of the new space in the hotel casino.
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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226