VJ Chicken & Biryani food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Havering
VJ Chicken & Biryani holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the takeaway and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 14 January 2026, 5 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: 130 Upminster Road, Hornchurch, RM12 6PL
How it compares in Havering
A 1 is rare: only 34 of 1,646 rated places in Havering score this low, about one in 48. By contrast 72% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,179 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 326 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 85 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 2% | ← VJ Chicken & Biryani | |
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 394 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 VJ Chicken & Biryani the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to VJ Chicken & Biryani, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clockhouse Bowling Club Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
| Aardvark Preschool School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2026 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Bright Horizons Gaynes Park Day Nursery and Preschool Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2025 |
| Cakebox Upminster Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| BrewDog Upminster Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 June 2025 |
| Alaias Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 October 2025 |
| Brick Lane Bagel Upminster Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 December 2025 |
Questions about VJ Chicken & Biryani
What is VJ Chicken & Biryani's food hygiene rating?
VJ Chicken & Biryani has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Havering Council on 14 January 2026.
Is VJ Chicken & Biryani safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was VJ Chicken & Biryani last inspected?
VJ Chicken & Biryani was last inspected on 14 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Havering Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at VJ Chicken & Biryani?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does VJ Chicken & Biryani compare to other places in Havering?
72% of the 1,646 rated food businesses in Havering hold the top rating of 5, while VJ Chicken & Biryani holds a 1. 34 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Havering Council inspects VJ Chicken & Biryani 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 VJ Chicken & Biryani and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Havering, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Havering
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
VJ Chicken & Biryani is one of 345 rated food businesses in Hornchurch. See every hygiene rating in Hornchurch →
Havering inspects and rates 2,040 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Havering →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.havering.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 →