Food Hygiene Ratings in Waltham Forest

1,974 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.0 out of 5. 51.7% rated "very good".

1,974
Businesses
4.0/5
Average Rating
186
Rated 0 or 1
51.7%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good51.7%981
Good21.8%413
Satisfactory15.0%285
Improvement Needed1.7%32
Major Improvement6.7%128
Urgent Improvement3.1%58

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen60130.4%
Retailers - other59129.9%
Takeaway/sandwich shop26913.6%
Caring Premises1578.0%
School/college/university914.6%
Pub/bar/nightclub884.5%
Other catering premises572.9%
Mobile caterer371.9%

Food hygiene ratings in Waltham Forest are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

Waltham Forest currently has 1,974 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,897 have been rated under the FHRS. The area has room for improvement, with only 51.7% achieving the highest rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.0 out of 5. There are currently 186 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Data last updated: March 14, 2026

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
13 ExpressE11 4EL0Nov 11, 2025
A2A Services LtdE10 7QE0Jun 26, 2025
AmbalaE17 9AH0May 30, 2025
Baraku Restaurant & Shisha LoungeE17 3HT0May 29, 2024
Best @ Less StoreE17 4NB0Jul 19, 2025
Bhola BiryaniE17 7DB0Jan 24, 2026
Bilge Food & WineE17 4JD0Aug 20, 2025
Brew Street CafeE10 7QL0Sep 06, 2025
Chow & ChaE17 7AH0Jul 31, 2025
Collins StoresE17 6PU0Feb 02, 2026
Crumbs BakeryE10 6RE0Dec 11, 2025
Dubai VapesE17 4AT0Nov 22, 2025
E17 KebabishE17 6PR0Nov 11, 2025
Easy ShopE17 6HE0Nov 22, 2025
Embas ExpressE15 2BX0Aug 26, 2025

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Waltham Forest have a 5 rating?+

There are currently 981 food businesses in Waltham Forest with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 51.7% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Waltham Forest?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Waltham Forest?+

Inspection frequency in Waltham Forest depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies