Lexington restaurant closed for roaches opens with new owner

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department recently closed a restaurant, and now its ownership is changing hands.

It was the only food service closure in the last month, according to the health department.

White Tiger Indian Restaurant and Bar at 3695 Nicholasville Rd. was closed June 29 and reopened July 1.

The Lexington Fayette County Health Department places a red notice on the door when a restaurant is closed. Amy Wallot

Restaurants are closed when the health department finds an imminent risk to public health, such as insect or rodent infestation, lack of running water, or sewage contamination. Restaurants can also be closed if the establishment scores too low during an inspection.

When the health department closes a restaurant, a red sign is placed on the door to notify potential customers that food service has been halted. But the health department does not publicize that restaurants have been closed. Restaurants must correct the issues to pass reinspection before they can reopen.

Why White Tiger was closed

According to the inspection report, during a June 29 regular inspection, the inspector observed “multiple live cockroaches as well as dead ones in facility.”

The inspector also noted a food manager was not present; employee drinks were stored on or over food prep and storage areas; employees were returning from outside to the food prep area without washing hands; multiple foods were stored uncovered; improper sanitizing (”employee rinsing used utensil in rinse sink, then looking at inspector while holding pot for approximately one minute, and finally setting pot down to return it to service without sanitizing said pot”); itemswere not properly date marked or properly labeled; staff preparing food were not wearing proper hair restraint; and a walk-in freezer cooling was unit dripping water into open food containers and accumulated on vegetables, among other issues.

The restaurant was allowed to reopen on July 1, after scoring 96.

But now White Tiger apparently is under new ownership.

Raz Ad, who told the Herald-Leader he is in the process of purchasing the restaurant, said he was unaware of all the issues with the closure last month. He indicated that he has paperwork pending with the former owner and plans to make changes.

According to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website, the restaurant had been owned by Yongfeng Yin, who changed the name and the menu in late 2025. It previously had been called Dumplings & Noodles and had been closed by the health department in August 2024 after failing inspection with a score of 52 out of 100. Restaurants that score below 60 are automatically closed. And in that case, the inspector also noted the presence of insects.

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