HIBACHI BUFFET
US Highway 27 North
Florida, 33870
Highlands County County
Overall Food Safety Rating
★½☆☆☆ (1.7/5)
Based on 5 health inspection reports
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All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 3/25/2025
High Priority
2
Intermediate
2
Basic
7
Total
11
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 22-20-5:Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed both ice machines in the kitchen have a black like substance on the white guard. Repeat Violation
- 35B-01-4:Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside in back of kitchen.
- 22-08-4:Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed microwave in the wait station has food debris inside it.
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed the gaskets on the walk in cooler and reach in coolers in the kitchen are soiled.
- 14-33-4:Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Observed reach cooler in the kitchen have shelves that have rust on them. Repeat Violation
- 29-11-4:Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Observed hand washing sink in dish area water is leaking from the faucet.
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed rice, flour, cornmeal not labeled in containers.
- 14-31-5:High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed pork in a carry out bag in the walk in cooler, the operator removed and put in correct bag. Corrected On-Site
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw shell eggs over ready to eat chicken in the reach in cooler in the sushi bar area, operator moved the eggs to different shelf. Corrected On-Site
- 31A-11-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed employee dump ice in the hand wash sink near the grill.
- 02C-02-5:Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed cole slaw, ambrosia salad, and cucumber-tomato salad that were made but were not date marked.
Food safety inspection conducted on 3/25/2025 revealed 11 total violations (2 high priority, 2 intermediate, 7 basic).
Inspection on 1/10/2025
High Priority
0
Intermediate
0
Basic
2
Total
2
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 22-20-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-10: Some progress noted on one unit. **Time Extended**
- 14-33-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface in Pepsi cooler Warning - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-10: **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/10/2025 revealed 2 total violations (0 high priority, 0 intermediate, 2 basic).
Inspection on 1/9/2025
High Priority
7
Intermediate
1
Basic
13
Total
21
Disposition: Facility Temporarily Closed
Inspection Details:
- 22-20-5:Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Repeat Violation Warning
- 32-12-5:Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed no waste receptacle with lids in the women's bathroom. Warning
- 35A-03-4:Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Observed two dead roaches by filing cabinet in wait staff area. Observed one dead roach by reach in cooler in sushi bar area. Observed one dead roach on the dumb waiter and one dead roach by the walk in freezer located in the kitchen. Five all together. Warning
- 08B-49-4:Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Observed fish next to food in the reach in freezer not segregated from other food. Operator removed. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 13-07-4:Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed cook with a watch and a bracelet on while cooking, employee removed. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation Warning
- 16-13-5:Basic - Equipment and utensils not washed, rinsed and sanitized in the correct order in three-compartment sink. Do not use dishes/equipment not properly sanitized. Operator was not using the sanitizer side, taking washed and rinsed pots directly to drying rack. Operator removed pots, rewashed and sanitized. Operator set up triple sink. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed four boxes of fortune cookies on the floor in the wait staff area. Observed two cases of cabbage and two cases of potatoes on the floor in the kitchen by the cook line and two cases of cantaloupe on the floor in the walk in cooler. Warning
- 10-20-4:Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed tongs on the handle of the fryer, operator removed. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 31B-04-4:Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed no handwashing sign at the hand washing sink in the sushi bar area. Warning
- 33-38-4:Basic - No waste receptacle installed at handwash sink provided with disposable towels at line. Warning
- 14-33-4:Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface in Pepsi cooler Warning
- 24-18-4:Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Observed forks and spoons facing upright in the dish area, operator changed to downward. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed different sauces and soups not labeled in the walk in cooler. Warning
- 01B-01-4:High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Observed one can of cheddar sauce dented on the can rack located in kitchen. Operator removed and discarded. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 22-49-4:High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly: Dishwasher (Chlorine 10ppm). Operator set up triple sink. Operator will call for service. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 12A-07-5:High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee remove watch and wristband put in pocket and changed his gloves without handwashing, educated employee on handwashing. Corrected On-Site Warning
- 35A-05-4:High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed two live roaches under the cook line in the kitchen. Observed one live roach by the hand washing sink located back of the kitchen. Observed one live roach on the side of reach in freezer and one live roach by the walk in cooler in the kitchen. Five all together. Warning
- 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. One pound butter patties at 78 F, 50 pounds of raw chicken at 46 degrees. Operator removed and voluntarily disposed of. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. One pound butter patties at 78 F, 50 pounds of raw chicken at 46 degrees. Warning
- 41-25-4:High Priority - Tracking powder pesticide used inside establishment under buffet tables. Warning
- 12A-03-4:Intermediate - Employee washed hands in the triple sink. Employee was educated on proper location. **Corrective Action Taken** Warning
Food safety inspection conducted on 1/9/2025 revealed 21 total violations (7 high priority, 1 intermediate, 13 basic).
Inspection on 3/11/2024
High Priority
3
Intermediate
2
Basic
5
Total
10
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 22-20-5:Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed black growth in corners of drop guard inside ice machines.
- 14-01-5:Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Operator removed. Corrected On-Site
- 13-07-4:Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Observed cook on line with wrist watch.
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed lexan pans stacked wet. Operator resituated to allow air drying. Corrected On-Site
- 22-09-5:Basic - Food storage container for non time/temperature control for safety food not cleaned after being emptied prior to refilling. Observed old food on exterior of bulk sugar and flour containers.
- 14-15-4:High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Observed husky storage bins used to hold bulk corn starch and flour.
- 08B-01-4:High Priority - Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Observed two items on buffet with no lids and not under sneeze guard. Fried won ton and chopped scallions. Operator put lids over items. Corrected On-Site Repeat Violation
- 03F-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Observed garlic and oil on cookline with no time mark. Operator added time to item. Corrected On-Site
- 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed buckets and squeegees blocking hand sink at cookline. Operator moved all from area. Corrected On-Site
- 31B-02-4:Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink at cookline. Operator added towels. Corrected On-Site
Food safety inspection conducted on 3/11/2024 revealed 10 total violations (3 high priority, 2 intermediate, 5 basic).
Inspection on 10/17/2023
High Priority
3
Intermediate
2
Basic
6
Total
11
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 16-55-4:Basic - Dishmachine not washing/rinsing properly. Must wash, rinse and sanitize all dishware, equipment and utensils in three-compartment sink until dishmachine is functioning properly. Sanitizer at 25ppm corrected to 50 ppm during inspection
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting.
- 06-06-5:Basic - Frozen time/temperature control for safety food being slacked at room temperature is no longer frozen solid. Observed imitation crab meat Ososter brand 20ea at 2lbs (70F - Cold Holding). See stop sale
- 10-01-5:Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Observed sugar container with scoop handle touching food. Manager stood the scoop in corner of container with handle out. Corrected On-Site
- 10-07-4:Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed rice scoops on 70F water at kit. Operator removed water and will hold in dry cup.
- 51-13-4:Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Inspector provided handout at inspection via email.
- 08B-01-4:High Priority - Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Observed cut scallions and fried won ton noodles offered in open containers at buffet, not under sneeze guard not protected. Operator removed to kitchens to find closed containers. Corrected On-Site
- 01B-02-5:High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. imitation crab meat zoster brand 20ea at 2lbs (70F - Cold Holding) thawed at room temperature. **Corrective Action Taken**
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Pepsi cooler , ribs (44F - Cold Holding); hot dogs (46F - Cold Holding) operator moved items to walk-in and will not use until cooler is able to maintain foods at 41F or colder. **Corrective Action Taken**
- 11-27-4:Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Inspector provided handout at inspection via email. Corrected On-Site
- 02B-02-5:Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Wrong consumer advisory used. Operator has oyster warning posted instead of raw meats advisory. Inspector emailed the correct advisory during inspection and operator posted at sushi bar. Corrected On-Site
Food safety inspection conducted on 10/17/2023 revealed 11 total violations (3 high priority, 2 intermediate, 6 basic).