Restaurant cleanliness complaints by state rating reveals worst offenders

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From soiled eating rooms to unwelcome pests, a viral rating highlights the place restaurant cleanliness complaints are piling up, and which states patrons say have the largest issues.

The record comes from Chicago-based restaurant furnishings firm Inexpensive Seating, which analyzed greater than 2.8 million TripAdvisor critiques throughout roughly 40,000 eating places in 2024, in line with studies.

The corporate targeted on low-rated eating places that acquired 2.4 stars or fewer in main cities, flagging critiques that talked about phrases reminiscent of "soiled restaurant," "hair in food," "rats," and "roaches."

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The rankings are primarily based on crowdsourced on-line critiques, not official restaurant inspection knowledge, which is tracked by native and state well being departments.

A viral rating revealed the place complaints about soiled eating situations and pests seem most often. (iStock)

Right here’s how the highest 10 broke down — and what put every state on the record.

1. New Jersey New Jersey topped the record by a large margin, pushed by an unusually excessive quantity of complaints referencing soiled eating situations. The Backyard State had 320,520 mentions of "soiled restaurant," 1,883 of "hair in meals" and 810 of rats and cockroaches.

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The variety of "soiled restaurant" mentions was greater than eight instances greater than the highest 10 common, pushing the state far forward of the remaining, in line with Food Safety News.

2. Florida Restaurant cleanliness complaints analyzed within the rating had been drawn from low-rated eateries in main U.S. cities. (iStock)

Florida’s rating was fueled by 1000's of cleanliness complaints in main vacationer hubs. The evaluation targeted on Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and St. Petersburg, and excluded Broward and Palm Seashore counties, the <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/22/florida-lands-on-list-of-filthiest-states-to-dine-in-america-heres-where-it-ranked-why/?lctg=A51054DAB482130843E17345E7&utm_email=A51054DAB482130843E17345E7&active=no&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.sun-sentinel.com%2f2026%2f01%2f22%2fflorida-lands-on-list-of-filthiest-states-to-dine-in-america-heres-where-it-ranked-why%2f&utm_campaign=trib-sun_sentinel-breaking_news-nl&utm_content=alert" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

It turned up 4,560 mentions of "soiled restaurant," 1,691 of "hair in meals" and 636 of bugs and rodents, in line with studies.

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3. California California’s high ranking was pushed largely by pest-related complaints relatively than basic cleanliness points. Whereas diners flagged "soiled restaurant" considerations 3,332 instances and talked about hair in meals in 1,731 critiques, the state led all others within the prime 10 for studies of rats and roaches, with 960 complaints — probably the most on the record.

Meals security officers word that well being division inspections stay the first measure of restaurant compliance. (iStock)

4. Arizona Arizona landed within the prime 5 resulting from regular complaints throughout all tracked classes, notably in its most populated metro areas. Reviewers cited "soiled restaurant" points 1,759 instances, together with 639 mentions of hair in meals and 443 complaints involving critters.

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5. Texas Texas’ rating mirrored constant — although decrease — grievance totals unfold throughout its giant city markets. The Lone Star State logged 1,068 "soiled restaurant" mentions, 471 references to hair in meals and 232 pest-related complaints, a quantity probably influenced by its dimension and variety of eating places.

Pest-related complaints performed a big function in pushing some states greater within the rankings. (iStock)

6. Louisiana Louisiana’s placement was pushed by a comparatively excessive variety of pest-related complaints in comparison with its general cleanliness mentions. Opinions included 951 references to soiled eating places, 412 mentions of hair in meals and 399 complaints involving rats and roaches.

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7. Alabama Alabama noticed notable complaints about cleanliness and meals dealing with, although fewer pest studies than many different states on the record. Diners cited soiled eating places 918 instances, hair in meals in 404 critiques and pest sightings in 141 instances.

8. Maryland The record is reportedly primarily based on thousands and thousands of TripAdvisor critiques. (iStock)

Maryland’s rating mirrored balanced grievance ranges throughout all tracked classes, relatively than a spike in any single concern. The state recorded 884 mentions of soiled eating places, 436 references to hair in meals and 201 vermin-related complaints.

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9. Nevada Nevada’s place was influenced by a excessive variety of pest complaints relative to its complete review count, notably in tourism-heavy areas. Opinions included 881 mentions of soiled eating places, 579 references to hair in meals and 414 complaints involving rats and roaches.

A number of main vacationer states ranked excessive on the record, pushed by giant volumes of diner critiques. (iStock)

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Georgia rounded out the highest 10 with reasonable however constant grievance volumes tied to each cleanliness and pests. Reviewers flagged soiled eating places 856 instances, cited hair in meals in 375 critiques and talked about rats or roaches in 216 instances.