Akiya Japanese Restaurant owner fined $15k over filthy premises

A Brighton restaurant specialising in Japanese cuisine including sushi, sashimi and Teriyaki chicken has been hit with a whopping fine after health inspectors discovered conditions so dire they posed an “immediate risk” to customers’ health.

Akiya Japanese Restaurant in Church St, Brighton was shut down due to filthy premises and “unsafe” food. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The owner of a Brighton Japanese restaurant deemed so filthy it posed an “immediate risk to public health” has been slapped with a $15,000 fine.

Bayside Council closed the popular Akiya Japanese Restaurant in August last year after a routine inspection. The Leader understands inspectors uncovered cockroaches scuttling across the floor at the Church St eatery, as well as grime in the kitchen.

The owner on October 31 pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court to 11 charges under the Food Act (1984) relating to inadequate pest control, unsuitable food handling and dodgy food storage practices.

The restaurant has since cleaned up its act and reopened. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He was hit with a $15,000 fine and ordered to pay the council’s costs of $7500.

Bayside city planning and amenity director Hamish Reid said the council enforced strict food safety standards at eateries.

“(The) council places a high importance on the provision of safe food for the community and has a legal obligation to ensure food traders comply with food safety laws and regulations,” he said.

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Dr Reid said Akiya was shut down until it could comply with an enforcement order, which stated the premises was in an “unclean or unsanitary condition or in a state of disrepair, that food being prepared, sold or otherwise handled at the premises is unsafe or unsuitable and food is prepared, sold or otherwise handled in a manner that makes it likely the food is unsafe or unsuitable”.

Dr Reid said the business — which specialises in traditional Japanese cuisine such as sushi, sashimi (raw fish) and Teriyaki chicken — was now compliant and allowed to continue trading.

Akiya management could not be reached for comment.