Pho King in Atlanta receives a 38% on their recent health inspection

Pho King, located at 10 Park Pl Ste 18 in Atlanta, received a score of 38 points out of a possible 100 points during their 02/18/2026 inspection by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The violations noted by the inspector were:

Violation #1:
1-2A – pic present, demonstrates knowledge, performs duties
511-6-1.03(2) – pic present (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed Upon entry observed that there wasn’t a PIC in the facility, none of the employees knew what was going on and could not answer food safety or procedural questions. CA: Advised PIC to have a designated alternative PIC on site when she is not present.

Violation #2:
1-2A – pic present, demonstrates knowledge, performs duties
511-6-1.03(2)(a)-(n)(p),(q) – responsibility of pic (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed an inability for employees to understand and maintain food safety in the manner communicated by the offsite PIC. CA: Advised PIC to routinely train employees on proper thawing, handwashing, and sanitization.

Violation #3:
2-1A – proper use of restriction & exclusion
511-6-1.03(4)(g) – exclusions & restrictions (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed employee working in the main kitchen while coughing, sneezing, and wiping nose without washing hand gloved hands. CA: Advised PIC to inform employees to adhere to their stated restriction and exclusion policy of not working while sick or presenting with respiratory symptoms.

Violation #4:
2-1B – hands clean and properly washed
511-6-1.03(5)(c) – when to wash (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed employee in the main kitchen placing hand to lean on trashcan and wiping nose without washing hands and changing gloves before working with food. CA: Advised PIC to review when to handwash with employees.

Violation #5:
2-2C – no discharge from eyes, nose, and mouth
511-6-1.03(5)(j)5 – discharges from eyes, nose, or mouth (c)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed employee sneezing and wiping his nose. CA: Employee needs to call out to adhere to restriction and exclusion policy.

Violation #6:
2-2D – adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
511-6-1.07(3)(a) – handwashing cleanser, availability (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed handwashing sink in the downstairs prep/serving area without the appropriate cleanser. CA: Advised PIC to provide handwashing soap for all sinks.

Violation #7:
2-2D – adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
511-6-1.06(2)(o) – using a handwashing sink- operation & maintenance (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed an inaccessible downstairs handwashing sink in the prep/service area. CA: Advised PIC to ensure handwashing sink is accessible for usage.

Violation #8:
3-1C – food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated
511-6-1.04(1) – safe, unadulterated and honestly presented (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed mold-like substance on multiple cucumbers in the downstairs prep/service area RIC.

Violation #9:
4-1A – food separated and protected
511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) – packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple open containers containing food on the ground of the main kitchen, WIF, and WIC. CA: Advised employees and PIC to place food items at a minimum of 6in off the ground.

Violation #10:
4-2A – food stored covered
511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(iv) – packaged & unpackaged food, food stored covered(c)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed uncovered brisket, pork, fried onions, shredded carrots, and egg rolls in the main kitchen WIF and WIC. Also, observed uncovered lettuce and cheese in prep top in the main kitchen. CA: Advised PIC to have employees keep food covered.

Violation #11:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(6)(n) – manual and mechanical warewashing equipment, chemical sanitization-temperature, ph, concentration, hardness (p,pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed employee inability to make sanitizer in 3-comp sink. CA: Advised PIC to teach employees how to make and properly utilize sanitizer. A chemical sanitizer used in a sanitizing solution for a manual or mechanical operation at contact times specified under subsection (8)(b)3 of this Rule shall meet the requirements specified in DPH Rule 511-6-1-.07(6)(g).

Violation #12:
6-1A – proper cold holding temperatures
511-6-1.04(6)(f) – time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed failure to cold hold TCS foods at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Observed raw eggs (45), chopped lettuce (56), and cooked chicken (45) cold held above 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

Violation #13:
6-2 – proper date marking and disposition
511-6-1.04(6)(g) – ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food, date marking (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed establishments inability to properly date mark food items kept over 24 hours. CA: Advised PIC to date mark all opened perishable food items kept over 24 hours.

Violation #14:
11C – approved thawing methods used
511-6-1.04(6)(c) – thawing (c)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed pic inability to properly thaw brisket and pork food items in the main kitchen. COS: Provided proper thawing methods document to pic.

Violation #15:
12A – contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, display
511-6-1.04(4)(r) – food storage, prohibited areas (c)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed cooked rice being stored in non food grade plastic grocery bag in the main kitchen. COS: Pic tossed food items.

Violation #16:
15B – warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, used; test strips
511-6-1.05(3)(h),(i),(j) – temperature measuring device, manual warewashing; sanitizing solutions, testing device (pf)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed pic inability to provide proper test strips for sanitizer. CA: Advised pic to acquire proper test strips for sanitizer.

Violation #17:
17C – physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) – good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed floors, walls and ceilings with built up debris throughout the facility. CA: Advised pic to routinely cleans floors, walls and ceilings to prevent debris build up.

Additional remarks:
Chef refused to sign since they aren’t the owner. The owner is Mai Duong, 770-371-4612

CLICK HERE to read the full report