Popular Everton matchday takeaway Hot Wok turns fortunes around after hygiene inspection

A Chinese takeaway in the shadow of Goodison Park has been given an improved rating by health officials.

Last September, Hot Wok on Langham Street, Walton, was deemed to require major improvement by environmental health officers from Liverpool Council and rated one out of five for hygiene. The city runs a food hygiene rating scheme in partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The law says any food premises can be inspected without making an appointment or giving advance notice.

Now, four months on, the popular matchday venue has been upgraded to a “good” rating and awarded four out of five on its food hygiene rating. The Hot Wok has proven a long term stop off for match going Everton fans before and after games at Goodison Park, with a mural of club legends including Duncan Ferguson and Howard Kendall painted on the side of the venue.

Officials from the city council inspect the business’ hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage cleanliness alongside the condition of its facilities and building. This includes having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good food hygiene.

Management of food safety, such as the provision of a system or checks to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future, is also placed under the spotlight. During its inspection last year, this was already said to be “generally satisfactory.”

According to its website, the Hot Wok’s food is “made fresh every day” with chefs “well known for their excellent Chinese cuisine.” It added: “When it comes to food, we are experts in choosing the colour, aroma, flavour and taste.”

Following the inspection last year, Hot Wok said in a statement it had corrected issues found by health inspectors “within 72 hours” and had been awaiting a fresh inspection. The business said the initial findings were owed to signage and building issues.

The new inspection was carried out on December 8 last year, with the confirmation of the new rating confirmed last week.