Tarka Express food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Southampton
Tarka Express holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the takeaway 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 14 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: 133 Rownhams Road, Southampton, SO16 5ED
How it compares in Southampton
In Southampton, 68% of rated places manage a 5, so Tarka Express sits behind roughly 1,016 nearby businesses. 19% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,016 | 68% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 278 | 19% | ← Tarka Express | |
| 3 out of 5 | 146 | 10% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 21 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 218 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Tarka Express 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 Tarka Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldermoor Community Farm Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2025 |
| Cedar School School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
| Care Home Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2020 |
| Bright Horizons Southampton, Day Nursery and Preschool Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2025 |
| Childrens and Paediatric Units Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 June 2026 |
| Aldermoor Premier Store Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 September 2023 |
| Breakfast And After School Club Caring Premises | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2024 |
Questions about Tarka Express
What is Tarka Express's food hygiene rating?
Tarka Express has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Southampton Council on 14 April 2025.
Is Tarka Express 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 takeaway to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Tarka Express last inspected?
Tarka Express was last inspected on 14 April 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Southampton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Tarka Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Tarka Express compare to other places in Southampton?
68% of the 1,486 rated food businesses in Southampton hold the top rating of 5, while Tarka Express holds a 4. 278 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Southampton Council inspects Tarka Express 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 Tarka Express and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Southampton inspects and rates 1,704 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Southampton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.southampton.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 →