Rai Rai Ramen, the full-service Ramen noodles and Hawaiian BBQ located on E. Market St. was issued a cease and desist order on Thursday after failing their annual health inspection. The restaurant was site with 23 health violations including an “uncontrolled infestation of multigenerational German cockroaches.” 

The Chester County Health Department issued the order and taped the following warning to the door:

“This Cease and Desist Notice is hereby given that all operations of the Retail Food Facility Rai Rai Ramen Noodle, located at 124 E. Market in the West Chester municipality must be discontinued effective immediately on 4-3-25.” 

The CCHD has directed the restaurant to get control of the infestation immediately through thorough cleaning, and the use of professional pest control services. 

Other violations of note

In addition to the bugs, health inspectors noticed other dangerous violations, including food employees handling raw animal foods and then ready-to-eat foods without changing gloves, an ice machine with a bio-film residue on it, and rice held at 100 degrees rather than the required 130 degrees. 

There were also unauthorized pesticides and an unidentified “tracking powder” pesticide being used by staff within the restaurant, and, perhaps not surprisingly, a litany of cleaning items. The inside of all refrigerators and freezers, hood filters, sides and between every piece of equipment, walls throughout the kitchen, shelving, floors, the cabinets interiors, ice chests, the back hallway, employee break area, and mop area were all included on the to clean list. 

The restaurant may not reopen until the property has been reinspected by the CCHD and “the imminent health hazard has been abated.” 

A license to resume operation will not be issued until all violations have been corrected and all fees have been paid, the report notes.

You can find the full list of violations on the Pennsylvania Food Safety website.

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