The Southern Kitchen food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Merton
The Southern Kitchen 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 6 May 2026, 2 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: 249 Northborough Road, Streatham, London, SW16 4TR
How it compares in Merton
That puts The Southern Kitchen among the 1,033 places in Merton holding top marks, 82% 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 | 1,033 | 82% | ← The Southern Kitchen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 171 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 275 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 Very good
- 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 The Southern Kitchen 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 The Southern Kitchen, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amigos Burgers And Shakes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
| Ambala Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 January 2026 |
| Affogato Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2024 |
| Archie's Burger & Shakes Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
| Airah Care Caring Premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 March 2025 |
| After School Club @ Gonville Academy Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2022 |
| Aashna House Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
Questions about The Southern Kitchen
What is The Southern Kitchen's food hygiene rating?
The Southern Kitchen has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Merton Council on 6 May 2026.
Is The Southern Kitchen 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 The Southern Kitchen last inspected?
The Southern Kitchen was last inspected on 6 May 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Merton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Southern Kitchen?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Southern Kitchen compare to other places in Merton?
82% of the 1,267 rated food businesses in Merton hold the top rating of 5, and The Southern Kitchen is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Merton Council inspects The Southern Kitchen 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 The Southern Kitchen and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Southern Kitchen is one of 29 rated food businesses in Streatham. See every hygiene rating in Streatham →
Merton inspects and rates 1,542 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Merton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.merton.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 →