Diners at Masa Sushi Asian Grill in south Charlotte might want to give the latest health score a quick glance before digging in. The restaurant landed a B (87%) on Tuesday after a Mecklenburg County inspection flagged a string of sanitation problems, including bare-hand contact with lo mein, raw shrimp stored above ready-to-eat food, and heavy black grime on dishwasher racks. Some of the food involved was tossed on the spot during the visit.
What inspectors found
According to the county inspection report, Masa Sushi finished with a score of 87. The inspector documented that the person in charge "touched lo mein noodles with their bare hands," that raw shrimp were stored above containers of ginger and cooling lo mein, and that dishwasher racks had "heavy accumulations of black grime." The report also cited slow or improper cooling, missing date marks, a heavily scarred cutting board, and single-use containers stored with exposed food-contact surfaces. Staff discarded the affected food and corrected several problems while the inspector was still on site, according to the Mecklenburg County inspection database.
Inspections that week
The same week, June 5 through 11, the county logged at least 173 restaurant inspections, and most spots stayed safely in A territory. That makes Masa Sushi’s first B noteworthy, even if it is not a complete outlier for the period. A roundup from The Charlotte Observer links directly to each report so readers can scan the details and track any follow-up visits, according to the Charlotte Observer.
What the grade means
In North Carolina, a numerical sanitation score is converted into a letter grade, and restaurants must keep at least a C (70%) to stay open. A score below 70 can trigger an immediate permit revocation. Places that get a B or C are allowed to request a reinspection and are expected to fix violations quickly, under state guidance outlined by The News & Observer. Local health officials can also order a shutdown on the spot if they find an imminent health hazard.
How to check a report
Mecklenburg County posts full inspection reports online and offers resources for restaurant operators on its Environmental Health site. Customers can search recent inspections or reach out directly with questions. For reports, explanations and contact information, visit Mecklenburg County Environmental Health or call the Environmental Health office at 980-314-1620.
