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Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine licensed at 248 Newbury Street in Boston

Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine licensed at 248 Newbury Street in Boston

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

Licensed Back Bay Thai restaurant failed its October health inspection

October 7th, 2026: Health inspection failed at 248 Newbury Street

Overview

Updated Oct 17

Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine, licensed in August to serve food at 248 Newbury Street, failed an October 7 health inspection. The inspection recorded four violations, in plumbing and water, personal hygiene and handwashing, cross-contamination, and facility maintenance, per Rat Radar, which compiles records from public health department data.

The failed result carries a Rat Radar score of 40, which the site calls high concern. The inspection adds to a record that includes a food-service license issued August 16 and a certificate of occupancy filing on September 29. The records do not state whether the restaurant has begun serving customers.

Why it matters

A food license on Newbury Street means Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine is positioned to serve one of Boston's highest-foot-traffic shopping corridors.

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Key Indicators

4
Health violations in October inspection
Inspection at 248 Newbury Street found four violations, in plumbing and water, personal hygiene, cross-contamination, and facility maintenance.
2
City filings at 248 Newbury Street
A Common Victualler license and a certificate of occupancy filing for the address.

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People Involved

PH
Patrick Harrington
Applicant on the certificate of occupancy filing
Listed as applicant on the September 29, 2026 filing

Organizations Involved

CC
Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine
Restaurant
Failed an October 7 health inspection; holds a food-service license at 248 Newbury Street

A Thai fast-casual restaurant that holds a food-service license at 248 Newbury Street and failed its October 7 health inspection.
Boston Licensing Board
Boston Licensing Board
Municipal licensing authority
Issued the Common Victualler license to Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine

The city board that issues Common Victualler licenses, which Boston requires for food-service establishments.

Timeline

June 2026 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 7th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Health inspection failed at 248 Newbury Street

    Latest Regulatory

    Inspection recorded a failed result with four violations, covering plumbing and water, personal hygiene and handwashing, cross-contamination and separation, and facility maintenance and cleanliness. Rat Radar scores the result 40, which the site labels high concern.

  2. Occupancy record filed for the building

    Permit

    Certificate of occupancy filing lists retail, commercial, lodging, and café uses at 248 Newbury Street.

  3. Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine licensed

    License

    Boston Licensing Board issued a Common Victualler food-service license to the restaurant.

  4. Café certificate issued for the building

    Permit

    City issued certificate for café space at 248 Newbury Street, cited in the later occupancy filing.

Scenarios

1

Chop Chop Rice Thai Cuisine opens at 248 Newbury Street

Possible Resolves by Sep 29, 2027

Discussed by: Dining media that track Boston restaurant openings, such as Eater Boston

The restaurant completes its build-out and begins serving customers, appearing in online listings and dining coverage. That would give the Back Bay corridor another fast-casual Thai option alongside existing restaurants.

2

License lapses or transfers without opening

Unlikely Resolves by Sep 29, 2027

Discussed by: Counter-case; no specific publication is forecasting this

The Common Victualler license remains unused, is surrendered, or transfers to another operator at the same address. The location would not operate under the Chop Chop Rice name.

3

Chop Chop fixes violations and passes follow-up inspection

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Rat Radar, which tracks health inspection outcomes

The restaurant corrects the four violations cited on October 7 and passes a re-inspection. That would allow it to continue toward or stay in food service at 248 Newbury Street.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2004-2008

Shake Shack's rise from a park kiosk (2004-2008)

Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group turned a Madison Square Park hot dog cart into a permanent kiosk in 2004. Shake Shack then expanded to high-traffic urban locations across New York and beyond.

Then

The kiosk drew long lines and became a destination, proving demand for elevated fast food in dense pedestrian areas.

Now

Shake Shack grew into a publicly traded chain with locations in prime retail districts across the U.S. and abroad.

Why this matters now

Shows how a fast-casual food concept establishes itself in high-foot-traffic corridors, the kind of setting 248 Newbury Street occupies.

1990-2015

The Halal Guys' cart-to-chain expansion (1990-2015)

The Halal Guys started in 1990 as a New York City food cart serving halal platters to Midtown crowds. After decades as a cart, the brand opened its first brick-and-mortar location in 2015 and began franchising.

Then

The first store proved the cart's following could convert to a sit-down and takeout business.

Now

The brand expanded to dozens of cities, showing how a proven food concept can scale by entering new urban markets.

Why this matters now

Illustrates the arc of a food concept moving from informal operation to licensed brick-and-mortar locations.

Sources

(5)
+1
City of Boston Data Portal Chop Chop City of Boston Rat Radar City of Boston Data Portal