Balam Mini Market food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Cardiff
Balam Mini Market holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 12 October 2021, more than 4 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 63 Grand Avenue, Ely, Cardiff, CF5 4LE
How it compares in Cardiff
In Cardiff, 70% of rated places manage a 5, so Balam Mini Market sits behind roughly 2,114 nearby businesses. 18% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,114 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 560 | 18% | ← Balam Mini Market | |
| 3 out of 5 | 258 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 45 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 49 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 8 | <1% |
A further 401 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Balam Mini Market 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 Balam Mini Market, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bu Kebab Other catering premises | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
| Brutons The Bakers Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Absorb Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2025 |
| Against The Grain Coffee House LTD Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 June 2025 |
| 4th Glamorgan Home Guard Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 August 2016 |
Questions about Balam Mini Market
What is Balam Mini Market's food hygiene rating?
Balam Mini Market has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Cardiff Council on 12 October 2021.
Is Balam Mini Market safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Balam Mini Market last inspected?
Balam Mini Market was last inspected on 12 October 2021, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cardiff Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Balam Mini Market?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Balam Mini Market compare to other places in Cardiff?
70% of the 3,034 rated food businesses in Cardiff hold the top rating of 5, while Balam Mini Market holds a 4. 560 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cardiff Council inspects Balam Mini Market 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 Balam Mini Market and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Balam Mini Market is one of 77 rated food businesses in Ely. See every hygiene rating in Ely →
Cardiff inspects and rates 3,435 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cardiff →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.srs.wales/en/Environmental-Health/Food-Hygiene-Standards/Food.aspx
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 →