Shabu Zen

78 Brighton Av, Boston, MA 02134

Passed re-check · May 4, 2026 Directions
62
Poor BiteKarma score 62 out of 100
How the BiteKarma score works

Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.

At a glance

  • Last inspected May 4, 2026: passed with no violations. That was a follow-up after failing on Apr 27, 2026.
  • Keeps coming up: Time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding, cited 3 times, plus 7 other repeat issues.
  • Passed 4 of 9 graded inspections since 2023.
  • 11 critical violations in the last two years.

Inspection history 9 visits

  1. 2026
  2. Passed May 4

    Reinspection

    No violations

  3. Failed Apr 27

    Inspection

    5 violations, 3 critical
    • Critical Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance
    • Critical Common name-working containers
    • Critical Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking
    • Minor Wiping cloths use limitation
    • Minor In-use utensils between-use storage
  4. 2025
  5. Passed Sep 23

    Reinspection

    No violations

  6. Failed Sep 16

    Inspection

    9 violations, 4 critical
    • Critical Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation
    • Critical Time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding
    • Critical Common name-working containers
    • Critical Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance
    • Minor Thawing
    • Minor In-use utensils between-use storage
    • Minor Outer openings protected
    • Minor System maintained in good repair
    • Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces

Nearby

BiteKarma scores around Shabu Zen, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.

  1. 68 Dolphin Bay 150 ft
  2. 65 Clay Pot Cafe 200 ft
  3. 100 Everlasting Flow 200 ft
  4. 81 Kyoaji Sushi 200 ft
  5. 69 Olitoki 200 ft