Sambal Express food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Harrow
Sambal Express 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 2 April 2025, 15 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: 253 Northolt Road, South Harrow, HA2 8HS
How it compares in Harrow
That puts Sambal Express among the 951 places in Harrow holding top marks, 61% 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 | 951 | 61% | ← Sambal Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 358 | 23% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 147 | 9% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 63 | 4% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 27 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 332 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 Sambal 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 Sambal Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abis Supermarket Other catering premises | 80 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
| Ambala Foods Ltd Retailers - other | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 July 2025 |
| Adam's Burgers Takeaway/sandwich shop | 174 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2025 |
| Aldi Stores Ltd. Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2025 |
| Aavjo express, Unit 5, South Harrow Market Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Best Booze Food & Wine Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 April 2024 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Alpine Food & Wine Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
Questions about Sambal Express
What is Sambal Express's food hygiene rating?
Sambal Express has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Harrow Council on 2 April 2025.
Is Sambal Express 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 Sambal Express last inspected?
Sambal Express was last inspected on 2 April 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Harrow Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sambal Express?
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 Sambal Express compare to other places in Harrow?
61% of the 1,551 rated food businesses in Harrow hold the top rating of 5, and Sambal Express is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Harrow Council inspects Sambal 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 Sambal 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
Sambal Express is one of 90 rated food businesses in South Harrow. See every hygiene rating in South Harrow →
Harrow inspects and rates 1,883 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Harrow →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.harrow.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 →