Medicine Hat Media

Menggu Grill Closes

Menggu Grill Storefront - Photo via MHRestaurants.com

Menggu Grill Storefront - Photo via MHRestaurants.com

As some of you may know, Menggu Grill has closed its doors (May 20th, 2009). Word is though, that the building has been sold – to who or what is unclear. To those of you not in the know, it was revealed several months ago that the Mongolian grill cuisine-style restaurant had been shut down by a representative at the Alberta Health Services (then called the Palliser Health Region) after a health inspection was carried out on October 30th, 2009. It was detailed in the report that rodent (mice) droppings were found in several locations including the buffet and food preparation area. The mice were apparently going in through a hole in the wall. There was also several other health problems noted in the report (linked to below).

After that, and a couple Medicine Hat News articles later, the owner, Andy Chen re-opened the restaurant as they had cleaned everything up, made all changes as laid out in the reports and got the go ahead by a follow-up inspection. Since then, it has been operating with a “clean bill of health” with no problems reported. The closing can probably be attributed (mostly) to the incident as many previous patrons presumptively did not return even after it was reported to be cleaned. But really, that is just speculation on my part.

In fact, after it was cleaned and cleared is when I started going more often. Because not only was it given a perfect health score after the fact, In my mind you could assume the owners were extremely diligent in fixing the problem and keeping it fixed to restore their image so it was probably cleaner and more complaint then most restaurants in the city. Also, keep in mind, I’m judging this solely on the fact that rarely does a restaurant 100% compliant inspection based on the reports on the Alberta Health Region – and Menggu Grill accomplished that after the fact. Too little, too late mind you. Their food and service was always excellent and they had a wonderfully unique (to Medicine Hat) concept.

Inspection Reports
Restaurant cleans up its act – reopens doors – Medicine Hat News article

User Comments

6 Responses to “Menggu Grill Closes”

  1. May 27th, 2009 at 10:20 AM


    Travis says:

    This is too bad but I think your speculation is correct. In fact, that location has had a long history of Asian cuisine restaurants that have been shut down due to health reasons. And this is the reason why as tempted as I was, I just couldn’t bring myself to eat there ever. This is not only my opinion, but the opinion of many people I know. Perhaps the space should be converted to something else other than a restaurant now.

  2. May 27th, 2009 at 1:18 PM


    Sean says:

    Travis – You’re right, most people do think “Ewww, health risk! Let’s not go there.”, but they rarely think “Hey, they’re still in business and have clean health inspections, it must be okay now.” and give them a second chance.

    I’m sure Superstore and Walmart have some mice running around here and there, or hiding away in the trucks/depots where the merchandise comes from.

    Unfortunately, a lot of people might still have that paradigm in mind if it gets turned to something else. But what can you do…

  3. May 27th, 2009 at 1:47 PM


    Vaughn says:

    What was there before Menggu Grill? I don’t remember.

  4. May 27th, 2009 at 7:17 PM


    Sean says:

    I don’t remember what it was, but I remember it was something with equally gross signage. 😛

  5. May 28th, 2009 at 9:24 AM


    travis says:

    I can’t remember if it was the last one there… but one of the restaurants there was called the Fortune Gardens I believe. Way back in the late 90’s I had a friend who worked there as a server. The stories she told me about the kitchen there are the kind of things stereotypes are made of!

    As for Menggu though, my girlfriend’s parents ate there several times and had nothing but good things to say about it, and it sounds like the owners were responsible people that did things the right way, which makes it even more disappointing that they’re now closed.

    Hopefully a similar style of restaurant will open up in maybe a little better location!

  6. May 28th, 2009 at 3:13 PM


    Dusty says:

    I enjoyed Menggu very much, it was probably the most healthy place I ever ate at.

    And the perogies … and chicken … and sauces …

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