May Chinese food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Epping Forest
May Chinese holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 17 April 2025, 14 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 319A High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4DA
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts May Chinese among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 760 | 84% | ← May Chinese | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At May Chinese none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to May Chinese, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffe Nero Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2023 |
| Morrisons Daily Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 2 December 2025 |
| The Black Lion Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2025 |
| Funky Monk Hotel, Restaurant, bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| Belgique Caring Premises | 49 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Epping Forest Foodbank Distributors/Transporters | 82 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 August 2024 |
| Amy Louise Retailers - other | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 November 2023 |
| Ellie's Nursery Epping Caring Premises | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
Questions about May Chinese
What is May Chinese's food hygiene rating?
May Chinese has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 17 April 2025.
Is May Chinese safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was May Chinese last inspected?
May Chinese was last inspected on 17 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at May Chinese?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does May Chinese compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and May Chinese is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects May Chinese and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch May Chinese and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
May Chinese is one of 185 rated food businesses in Epping. See every hygiene rating in Epping →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →