Himalayan Kitchen, a longtime favorite on 11th Avenue in Kaimuki, has been ordered closed after state health inspectors uncovered a series of serious food-safety violations, including failing refrigeration and signs of rodents in the kitchen. The restaurant was hit with a red "CLOSED" placard and cannot reopen until the problems are fixed and a follow-up inspection clears the operation. Diners who stopped in recently or have upcoming plans tied to the restaurant may want to double-check orders or reservations that could be affected.
What inspectors found
During a routine inspection on Dec. 9, a state inspector documented multiple critical violations: insufficient refrigeration in all units used for foods that require time and temperature control (TCS), food not in good condition including visible mold, improper use of tobacco in the kitchen, improper date-marking, and toxic materials stored above single-use food containers. Inspectors also cited unprotected openings and "evidence of rodents and insects, including a live rat and live cockroaches," according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
The agency said the restaurant received the red placard on Dec. 9 and must restore cold-holding temperatures to 41°F or below before a follow-up inspection can clear it to reopen.
Kaimuki staple
Himalayan Kitchen has been a neighborhood fixture, serving Nepalese and Indian dishes and racking up local recognition, including an Ilima Award, per a Honolulu Star-Advertiser dining feature. The Star-Advertiser describes the spot as a longtime go-to for curries, tandoori items and daily specials in Kaimuki.
Regulatory history
This is not the first time the operator behind Himalayan Kitchen has run into trouble with regulators. In December 2021 the U.S. Department of Labor found Himalayan Kitchen LLC failed to pay required overtime to cooks, recovering roughly $40,000 in back wages, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
What happens next
According to the Department of Health, the facility cannot be used to prepare food for the public, including off-site events or catering, until refrigeration units can reliably hold food at 41°F or below and a follow-up inspection clears the kitchen. Operators are required to discard adulterated food and correct the cold-holding and sanitation issues before the red placard will be removed.
Legal implications
Only authorized DOH agents are allowed to post or remove the color-coded placards, and tampering with them can trigger enforcement. In one recent case, a mobile vendor that removed a red placard was hit with a $2,000 fine, illustrating the kind of penalties operators can face, according to Hawaii News Now.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health posted the shutdown notice and inspection details on X and is expected to provide any reopening updates there. See the agency’s official announcement at Hawaiʻi Department of Health on X, which shared the red-placard notice on Dec. 10.
