South MS restaurant fails health inspection for fourth time in three years
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sai Kitchen in Gulfport received a fourth 'C' grade since 2022 for violations.
- Violations included insects, unclean surfaces, and improper cold holding temps.
- State data shows 99 restaurants earned 'A' grades during the same inspection week.
Three restaurants in South Mississippi failed their health inspection in the last week, one with four violations and bugs, rodents or animals present.
Sai Kitchen, 63 Hardy Court Shopping Center, Gulfport, was inspected June 24 for a permit renewal. It was cited for:
▪ No certified manager
▪ Insects, rodents or animals present, a repeat violation
▪ Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized, a repeat violation
▪ Improper cold holding temperatures
A follow-up inspection the next day on June 25 showed the violations were corrected and the restaurant was given a B.
This was the fourth C in less than three years.
From 2019 to May 2023, the restaurant passed all of its inspections with an A or B. Since October 2019, there were six inspections and four of them were Cs.
Restaurants and kitchens in Mississippi receive the following health inspection grades:
▪ A: if they pass the health department inspection
▪ B: if all violations are corrected during the inspection
▪ C: if the violations are critical.
Other restaurants that scored a C in the last week are:
La Hacienda 504 at 220 Eisenhower Drive, Biloxi, had a scheduled inspection June 17. It was cited for:
▪ No certified manager
▪ Not in compliance with variance specialized process and Haccp plan.
This is for food handling methods outside normal procedures and not fully covered in the Mississippi food code. It often involves special equipment and techniques that could lead to food safety risks.
Corrected during the inspection were:
▪ Adequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible
▪ Food separated and protected.
The only prior inspection at the restaurant in October resulted in an A.
Laxmi of Lucedale, 1287 Beaver Dam Road in Lucedale, was inspected June 17 for a permit renewal. It was cited for:
▪ Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible
▪ Hot and cold water available at adequate pressure
The only other C was in 2019, when there also was an issue with adequate water pressure.
Most restaurants in South Mississippi pass without any violations. Since June 17, the health department gave 99 As to restaurants in South Mississippi and 14 Bs.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
