‘Significant’ cockroach infestation forces closure of Calgary restaurant

Inspectors with Alberta Health Services have ordered a Calgary restaurant to close following the discovery of “a significant German Cockroach infestation — in all life stages.”

The eatery, known as Ho Won restaurant, is located at 200A – 115 – 2nd Avenue southeast, in Calgary’s Chinatown.

The report from AHS inspectors cites a long list of violations that were observed during six inspections between February 4, 2022 and January 17, 2025, when the closure order was issued.

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Among the ‘critical’ violations were:

• two glue boards located behind the cooler by the three-compartment sink were covered in German Cockroaches in multiple life stages;
• numerous German Cockroaches observed crawling behind the cook line, under the mechanical dishwasher, on the walls throughout the facility, on rolling carts, and dead in a bucket of water by the back walk-in freezer;
• cockroach droppings along the walls and door frame in the dry storage room; and,
• multiple cockroach egg cases observed throughout the facility.

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Other violations, identified as non-critical include:

• food equipment and utensils that were dirty and had a build-up of food debris, grime, grease, and dirt;
• chipped plates and dishes;
• poor sanitation, including grease build-up and grime on the walls, floor, walls and ceiling air vents;
• food that was stored uncovered and on the floor;
• dirty wiping-up cloths; and,
• the door to the walk-in freezer was damaged and the interior insulation exposed.

The report also includes a long list of clean-up, sanitation, building repairs and other mitigation measures that must be completed, before a follow-up inspection is done to determine if the restaurant will be allowed to reopen.

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According to AHS, German cockroaches are the most common type — about 1.3 to 1.6 cm long, they live for about six months and can reproduce very quickly.

While dirty buildings are more likely to have cockroaches, they can live in any building — often coming in as live cockroaches or eggs on food, furniture, or clothing.

Health Canada says they are particularly fond of inhabiting restaurants, food processing facilities, hotel rooms and nursing homes.

During the day they will hide in groups in areas such as behind baseboards, in cracks and crevices, or under appliances such as stoves and refrigerators.

They contaminate food with their feces and even dishes that seem clean can be contaminated with harmful bacteria such as salmonella — and the allergens they create can also get into the air people breathe or the food they eat, causing an allergic reaction or making asthma worse.

AHS says a plan for “integrated pest management” is needed to get rid of them — and if the infestation is bad — it’s best to hire an exterminator.

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