A POPULAR Cantonese and Vietnamese restaurant is relieved after going from a one to a five-star food hygiene rating.

Chung Ying Garden, on Friar Street, Worcester, was told major improvements in food safety management were needed as the Food Standards Agency gave it a one-star rating in January. 

Tsu Law, bar manager at Chung Ying Garden, said it was frustrating receiving just one star because of paperwork not being up-to-date. 

She said: "The inspector said you could have a clean restaurant, but you do not have the paperwork to match.

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"Unfortunately for us, we had not been keeping track.

"It was frustrating that it was down to that.

"We were definitely happy to get the five-star rating.

"When they gave us the sticker for the door, the inspector told us it was well-deserved.

"There were smiles all around."

The food hygiene rating did have an impact on the restaurant.

Ms Law said: "It did affect the business slightly.

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"People were coming in and were asking about our rating but once we said the reason they understood.

"Bookings did go down a bit but we are hoping it will go back up.

"This weekend we are full."

Chung Ying Gardens in Friar Street was taken over in March 2022 by Denny Chan.

Mr Chan, originally from Hong Kong, took over following the retirement of the previous owners. 

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They announced their departure on the restaurant's Facebook page in 2022 after almost two decades at the helm.

Chung Ying Garden is also up for a national best restaurant award after winning the hearts and minds of city customers.

The business is up for best restaurant at the England Business Awards, and restaurant managers are encouraging people to get behind them and vote for them online.

This rating means that of Worcester's 177 restaurants, cafes, and canteens with ratings, 143 (81 per cent) have ratings of five, and none have zero ratings.

Chung Ying Garden's new five-star rating wasn’t featured on the Food Standards Agency’s website at the time of writing.