Four South MS kitchens fail health inspections in three days for sanitary issues
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- Four restaurants failed inspections recently in South Mississippi.
- Repeated issues include inadequate handwashing and plumbing issues.
- Inspectors issued 176 As, 26 Bs, and three Cs in District 9.
Mississippi Health Department inspectors arrive at restaurants and kitchens across South Mississippi at least once each year with a checklist.
The inspectors, now identified by code rather than name for their protection, are looking for safe food handling practices, clean kitchens and proper equipment. At four kitchens in the last week they had issues with what they found.
Mississippi health codes require sinks to have hot and cold water and a soap dispenser with a supply of soap. They also require disposable towels rather than a common towel. And hands can’t be washed in sinks where food is prepared or where utensils are cleaned.
The latest restaurant inspection report for South Mississippi shows kitchens have repeated violations for inadequate handwashing facilities, which aren’t corrected from one year to the next.
Sai Chevron, 8413 Woolmarket Road, Biloxi, was inspected Feb. 19 for a permit renewal. It was cited for:
- Inadequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible, a repeat violation
It also failed for the same reason in 2025, 2023, and three times in 2022 — under four different inspectors
Corrected during the inspection was:
- Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized
It was reinspected March 2 and scored a B with no violations.
This is Sixth C in four years since 2022 and the ninth since 2014.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 11240 U.S. 49, Gulfport, had a follow-up inspection Feb 17 and scored its second C this month.
The restaurant failed Feb. 11 for inadequate handwashing facilities. When the inspector returned on Feb. 17 the restaurant failed for:
- Inadequate handwashing facilities not supplied and accessible
- Plumbing not installed with proper backflow device
These are the third Cs since May
Wayne Lee’s #2 Deli at 12109 Mississippi 63 south, Lucedale, was inspected Feb. 19 for a permit renewal. It was cited for:
- No certified manager
- Toilet facilities improperly constructed, supplied, cleaned
- Plumbing not installed with proper backflow devices
Corrected during the inspection was:
- Proper hot holding temperatures
- Proper date marking and disposition
It was reinspected March 2 and now has a B grade with no violations.
This was the fifth C in two and a half years and the eighth since 2011.
Samurai, 2511 25th Ave., Gulfport, had a scheduled inspection on Feb. 18. It was cited for:
- Plumbing not installed with proper backflow devices
- Last inspection grade not posted
A follow-up inspection on March 2 showed no violations.
This is the first C dating back to 2020.
Department of Health inspectors give restaurants and kitchens an A if there are no violations, a B if all violations are corrected during the inspection and a C when there are critical violations.
Since Feb. 1 In District 9, which covers the lower counties in Mississippi, the inspectors gave 245 As, 31 Bs and seven Cs.
This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 9:58 AM.
