Article – I’ve just learned about two more Toronto restaurants that had to close their doors following health inspections last week. As someone who’s covered our city’s dining scene for nearly a decade, these closures always concern me – they affect business owners, employees, and the dining public alike.
The first shutdown was Manpuku Japanese Eatery, located at 666 Spadina Avenue near Harbord Street. Health inspectors discovered some troubling issues during their June 4th visit, including inadequate pest control and food temperature violations. Anyone familiar with food safety protocols knows that proper temperature control is crucial for preventing foodborne illness, something I’ve heard repeatedly from Toronto Public Health officials over the years.
According to city records, inspectors identified five crucial infractions at Manpuku, with three categorized as significant and two as minor. What caught my attention was that this isn’t the restaurant’s first closure – it was previously shut down in September 2023 for similar issues.
“Repeat closures often indicate systemic problems rather than one-off incidents,” explained Carmen Wong, a local food safety consultant I spoke with yesterday. “Restaurants need comprehensive plans to address these issues permanently.”
The second closure affected Shawarma Palace at 401 Dundas Street East. During their June 5th inspection, health officials documented six crucial infractions. The violations included failing to protect food from contamination and not ensuring proper handwashing among food handlers – basics that every food establishment should maintain.
When I visited the area yesterday, both restaurants displayed the distinctive red “Closed” notices from Toronto Public Health. These notices must remain visible until inspectors return and determine that all issues have been adequately addressed.
Toronto’s DineSafe program conducts thousands of inspections annually across our city’s roughly 17,000 food establishments. Last year alone, I covered nearly two dozen temporary closures, which represents only a small fraction of Toronto’s vibrant restaurant scene.
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, has previously emphasized that the inspection system works as designed. “Our priority is protecting public health while working collaboratively with food premises to ensure compliance,” she stated during a public health briefing I attended earlier this year.
For diners concerned about restaurant safety, the city maintains a searchable database at DineSafe Toronto where inspection results are publicly available. I’ve found it to be a valuable resource when researching stories about our local food scene.
The financial impact of these closures can be significant. “Even a short-term closure can cost thousands in lost revenue and spoiled inventory,” noted Janet McLeod of the Toronto Restaurant Association during our conversation about industry challenges last month.
Both establishments will need to correct all identified issues and pass a follow-up inspection before they can reopen. While closures are disruptive, they ultimately serve to protect public health and maintain standards across Toronto’s diverse culinary landscape.
As our city’s summer tourism season ramps up, these incidents highlight the ongoing importance of food safety vigilance in our restaurant community. I’ll be keeping an eye on these establishments to see when they reopen and will continue to monitor Toronto’s restaurant inspection landscape.
