Food Hygiene Ratings in Waltham Forest

1,992 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.0 out of 5. 51.3% rated "very good".

1,992
Businesses
4.0/5
Average Rating
191
Rated 0 or 1
51.3%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good51.3%949
Good22.3%413
Satisfactory14.4%266
Improvement Needed1.6%30
Major Improvement6.7%124
Urgent Improvement3.6%67

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen60330.3%
Retailers - other58929.6%
Takeaway/sandwich shop27213.7%
Caring Premises1608.0%
School/college/university914.6%
Pub/bar/nightclub894.5%
Other catering premises593.0%
Mobile caterer422.1%

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.

The source snapshot contains 1,992 registered food businesses for Waltham Forest. Of these, 1,849 have been rated under the FHRS. The area has room for improvement, with only 51.3% achieving the highest rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.0 out of 5. The snapshot contains 191 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they required 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.

Source snapshot retrieved: July 26, 2026. Ratings may have changed since retrieval; verify with the linked authority.

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
13 ExpressE11 4EL0Nov 11, 2025
4Chi Food Fusion/4Chi Soul Food at The Hare & HounE10 7LD0Jun 13, 2026
A2A Services LtdE10 7QE0Jun 26, 2025
Amanah CaterersE11 3EY0Mar 23, 2026
AmbalaE17 9AH0Mar 14, 2026
Ambrosia SupermarketE17 7BX0Apr 16, 2026
Aslan & Son's Food StoreE10 6QA0May 22, 2026
Barts Health at Whipps Cross HospitalE11 1NR0May 28, 2026
Best @ Less StoreE17 4NB0Mar 31, 2026
Bhola BiryaniE17 7DB0Jan 24, 2026
Blackhorse Food & WineE17 6HF0Feb 19, 2026
Bombay Kebab OriginalE11 4JU0Jun 20, 2026
Bright Horizons Leytonstone Day Nursery and PreschE11 1HX0Mar 31, 2026
Chicken ValleyE17 7JH0Jun 04, 2026
Chingford Rugby ClubE4 8AQ0Mar 14, 2026

Frequently asked questions

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

The source snapshot contains 949 food businesses in Waltham Forest with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 51.3% 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