WALDORF, Md. — Charles County officials have shut down Szechuan Garden, a longtime Chinese restaurant located outside St. Charles Towne Center at 11149 Mall Circle in Waldorf, after inspectors cited an active cockroach infestation that contaminated food and food-prep surfaces.
Two separate notices — one from the county’s Planning and Growth Management Code Enforcement Division and another from the Charles County Department of Health — were posted on the restaurant’s front door on Oct. 6, 2025, ordering the business to cease operations until further notice.
A bright yellow “Danger / No Entry” notice from county code enforcement said the building was unsafe to occupy because of a pest infestation and ordered the restaurant to stay closed until inspections were finished. A second red-bordered notice, signed by Health Officer Dr. Dianna E. Abney, suspended the restaurant’s license over “unsanitary conditions — food and prep areas contaminated by cockroaches.”
The suspension was issued under Maryland Code 10.15.03, which allows immediate closures when an imminent public health threat is found.
The shutdown came just two days after a video posted by DMV TikToker @Bzblyluv on Oct. 4, 2025, went viral online. The clip — tagged #SzechuanGarden #waldorf #dmvfood #restaurantstory #dmvtok — showed cockroaches crawling on the walls as customers were ordering, prompting an outpouring of complaints and calls for inspection.
In the video, the diner describes confronting the staff:
“Y’all have roaches crawling out of the kitchen… crawling on the register, crawling down the cabinet, crawling off the counter. And y’all walking past it like it’s nothing… we don’t do roaches, and we don’t do bugs playing around our food, okay?”
In a follow-up video posted three days later, the TikToker @Bzblyluv revealed she had filed a formal complaint with the Charles County Health Department.
She displayed a screenshot of the department’s email response, which stated:
“Thank you for the complaint you submitted to the Charles County Department of Health. We went out today for an inspection and are working with the staff to resolve the situation.”
County officials said the restaurant must remain closed until it passes both health and building inspections. Any unauthorized entry into the property could lead to prosecution.
Reopening will require documented pest eradication and proof that the facility meets all state and county food safety standards.
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Maybe they were serving general sol roaches ummm good
NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! Will never eat there again, it’s not worth it!! It’s all about the integrity of the owner, mgmt and those employed there. They can clean up all they want to now…too late! They knew that place was like that and didn’t do anything about. If it wasn’t for someone reporting it, it would have continued. If they allowed that to happen to that point where it’s out of control then what else will they do to the food? Just nasty!! Nasty disgusting people!! 🤮
whos the blond?
every year we observe the boston tea party\ or do we? the boston tea party is a commemoration of a refusal to pay taxes, to be taxed on your food. When you dine out, you’re taxed on your food. Texas is taxes with out the a. Shhhh a comment for another time.
I have been telling people to be careful those almonds in their food doesn’t have little legs.
I have been warning my friends about almonds with little legs in their food.
Mmmm, Waterbug Wonton
That’s real shame – they are our favorite Chinese food restaurant. Why they would just let it happen is so disturbing 😞 they must be used to that sort of thing in their country. I guess that’s it for us. My crispy walnut chicken – so sad.
The food is trash anyway, glad I never go. They need to go to Boston’s for an inspection. I’ve seen roaches there and refuse to go back.
Nasty owners!
They can’t be trusted with public health and food safety any longer.
Be careful sis they’re sending the Triads for you
They are saying closed for renovation. Ha ha
It’s a mall problem. I wouldn’t eat anywhere in the mall. Also, check your shopping bags!
Do you cover ALL restaurants that are shut down with such vengeance? Or how about the liquor stores who sell the minors? Big headlines or just a tiny snippet on the bottom of the last page?
and by the way, it’s general Tso
Not so happy ending
Sloppy ending