Health violations force temporary closure of Yekaterinburg's Engels cafe

The Engels coffee shop on 8 March Street in Yekaterinburg has been shut down for 30 days after inspectors found multiple sanitation violations, including poor employee hygiene and missing documentation.

Feb 27, 2026

Health officials ordered the closure of the Engels cafe near Chkalovskaya metro station for one month after finding several health code violations during an inspection.
Source:
Engels_coffee / Instagram.com (extremist organization, activities prohibited in the territory of the Russian Federation)

In Yekaterinburg, the Engels coffee shop on 8 March Street (near the South Bus Station) was unexpectedly closed. The Sverdlovsk Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) reported that it is inspecting the activities of LLC «Beach» — the legal entity under which the establishment is registered. Samples of products, drinking water, swabs, and disinfectants were taken from the cafe.

Health inspectors have already found a number of violations: lack of labeling, non-compliance with waste collection requirements, and improper food storage conditions. Moreover, the facility lacks measuring devices in refrigeration equipment, necessary logs, and employees do not follow personal hygiene rules.

Based on materials from Rospotrebnadzor, the Chkalovsky District Court suspended the coffee shop«s operations for 30 days. Health inspectors are awaiting test results.

Engels clarified that they have not received any complaints from customers.

‘During the inspection after the restaurant«s expansion, 8 violations were found, which we have fixed and provided protocols for in court. At the moment, we are awaiting the results of official studies and tests. In all other Engels branches, we have conducted unscheduled inspections and are operating normally,’ the coffee shop noted.

There are six Engels coffee shops in Yekaterinburg in total. The establishment is famous for its waffles. The network is headed by restaurateur Valentin Kuzyakin, who also manages the establishments «Gastroli», «Soyka», «Gady, Kraby i Vino» (Reptiles, Crabs and Wine), and the bar «Shalom Shanghai».

Recall that in mid-January, customers of another coffee shop — DUO — in Yekaterinburg began complaining en masse about poisoning. Residents reported that after visiting the establishment they felt unwell: severe vomiting, weakness, chills. Health inspectors began checking the coffee shops: Staphylococcus aureus was found in two workers.

Many residents left reviews describing their symptoms. Here you can read the stories of the victims.