BELLEVUE -– King's Chinese Restaurant was shut down Tuesday by the King County Health Department for violations that included cockroaches in the food.
The King County Health Department said while that is a serious problem, other issues discovered related to food temperatures were even more threatening to customers' health.
KIRO 7 visited the restaurant Wednesday and spoke to the owner, who did not want to appear on camera.
She showed KIRO 7 receipts from a monthly pest control service that last came on Oct. 7. She said as soon as she saw a cockroach after that, she ordered services from a different pest control company on Oct. 17. She said the company could not send any staff until next week.
A health inspector made a routine visit Tuesday, before that crew could take care of the problem.
KIRO 7 searched records of King's Chinese Restaurant's previous inspections and found food temperature violations from the last 12 visits by the Health Department.
The restaurant owner said this week's visit happened just as shifts were changing and before they had the chance to throw away extra food from the lunch service.
Customers being turned away at the door were shocked to hear about the violations.
"I'm very surprised. Extremely surprised," said Rob Granard. "Every time I've eaten here the food's been excellent. I've eaten here maybe five times this year."
King's Chinese Restaurant can reopen if they address all their violations and are re-issued their permit from the Health Department.
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