Al's Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Belfast City
Al's Cafe 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 28 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: 171 Shankill Road, BT13 1FP
How it compares in Belfast City
That puts Al's Cafe among the 2,118 places in Belfast City holding top marks, 73% 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 | 2,118 | 73% | ← Al's Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 501 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 230 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 253 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 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 Al's Cafe 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 Al's Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alessie Centre Early Years Day Care Caring Premises | 268 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 July 2025 |
| Adixion Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Ability Cafe at The Foundry Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Ancient Order Of Hibernians Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 September 2017 |
| Amelia's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| Arny’s Bagels Manufacturers/packers | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
| Ash&Cole Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 July 2025 |
| Auntie Anne's Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 January 2025 |
Questions about Al's Cafe
What is Al's Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Al's Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Belfast City Council on 28 April 2025.
Is Al's Cafe 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 Al's Cafe last inspected?
Al's Cafe was last inspected on 28 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Belfast City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Al's Cafe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Al's Cafe compare to other places in Belfast City?
73% of the 2,919 rated food businesses in Belfast City hold the top rating of 5, and Al's Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Belfast City Council inspects Al's Cafe 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 Al's Cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Belfast City inspects and rates 3,172 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Belfast City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/buildingcontrol-environment/foodsafety/consumers-foodhygienescheme.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 →