Holy Cow food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Islington
Holy Cow holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 October 2025, 9 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: Holy Cow, Commercial Unit, 87 Junction Road, N19 5QU
How it compares in Islington
That puts Holy Cow among the 1,536 places in Islington holding top marks, 64% 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 | 1,536 | 64% | ← Holy Cow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 470 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 265 | 11% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 48 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 179 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 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 Holy Cow 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 Holy Cow, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 263 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 July 2024 |
| After School Club@St John's C of E School/college/university | 360 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 March 2025 |
| 68 Degrees Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 367 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2025 |
| Aces and Eights Saloon Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 February 2023 |
| Al Parco Pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2025 |
| Afrikana Holloway Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 March 2025 |
| Accent Catering Services Ltd - West@ School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 September 2025 |
| Aetos Greek Taverna Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 April 2025 |
Questions about Holy Cow
What is Holy Cow's food hygiene rating?
Holy Cow has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Islington Council on 3 October 2025.
Is Holy Cow 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Holy Cow last inspected?
Holy Cow was last inspected on 3 October 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Islington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Holy Cow?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Holy Cow compare to other places in Islington?
64% of the 2,408 rated food businesses in Islington hold the top rating of 5, and Holy Cow is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Islington Council inspects Holy Cow 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 Holy Cow and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Islington inspects and rates 2,587 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Islington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.islington.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 →