The King County Public Health department is investigating a foodborne illness outbreak at Kobuta & Ookami Katsu & Sake in Redmond, Washington, following reports of two customers becoming ill after dining at the restaurant in late December.
The affected customers dined at the Japanese restaurant on December 22, 2024, with symptoms appearing the following day. Both individuals reported experiencing symptoms consistent with bacterial infection, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and chills. No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak.
During a January 10, 2025 inspection, health officials identified several food safety violations at the restaurant. Inspectors observed improper hand washing procedures among staff members and inappropriate glove usage when handling different food items. Additional concerns included potential cross-contamination risks in the handling of raw foods and storage practices for different types of raw meat.
The restaurant was also found to be operating without maintaining a required illness log for workers. While the establishment has a policy prohibiting ill employees from working, health officials provided guidance requiring workers to wait 24 hours after symptoms resolve before returning to work.
Public Health officials have supplied the restaurant management with resources and instructions to address the identified issues, including proper protocols for screening workers’ health status before allowing them to return to work. A follow-up inspection is scheduled within 14 days to verify that all violations have been corrected.
The specific source of the illness has not been identified, and no laboratory testing has been conducted on the affected individuals. No restaurant workers have reported illness in connection with the outbreak.
Anyone who experiences symptoms of foodborne illness after dining at any local food businesses are encouraged to report their cases to Public Health.
The restaurant currently maintains an “Okay” inspection rating while the investigation continues. The health department maintains a public list of temporary food business closures and accepts reports of food safety violations through their investigative team.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading food poisoning lawyer said, “This is a great example of how public health departments work to understand how a restaurant’s customers could have gotten sick, ensure the business is in compliance, provide education and guidance, and prevent more people from becoming ill.”
