CHINA BUFFET
1245 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, Florida, 33612
Hillsborough County County
Overall Food Safety Rating
★★½☆☆ (2.5/5)
Based on 5 health inspection reports
All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 4/2/2025
High Priority
1
Intermediate
2
Basic
0
Total
3
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shrimp over ready to eat bread and green beans in walk in cooler.
- 12A-03-4:Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee picked trash up off the floor then proceeded to wash his hands in food preparation sink. Had a conversation about proper handwashing procedures. Employee washed his hand in appropriate sink. **Corrected On-Site**
- 31A-11-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Handwashing sink has lids stored inside it. Owner removed lids and placed at dishwasher. **Corrected On-Site**
Food safety inspection conducted on 4/2/2025 revealed 3 total violations (1 high priority, 2 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 3/17/2025
High Priority
0
Intermediate
0
Basic
0
Total
1
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- N/A:No Violations Were Observed
Food safety inspection conducted on 3/17/2025 revealed 1 total violations (0 high priority, 0 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 3/17/2025
High Priority
3
Intermediate
6
Basic
6
Total
15
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 14-01-5:Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl without a handle used as scoop inside flour bin on table across from flattop grill in back kitchen area.
- 12B-01-4:Basic - Employee eating while preparing food. Employee eating while preparing food in back kitchen area.
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. Buckets of soy sauce stored on floor in kitchen area.
- 10-07-4:Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Utensil's stored in water at 111F.
- 08B-39-4:Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Green beans not washed before preparation.
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Clear bottles of sauces used for cooking has no labeling of ingredients on counter by flattop grill in kitchen area.
- 22-41-4:High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishwasher tested 0ppm of chlorine. Owner prime sanitizer retested at 100ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
- 12A-10-4:High Priority - Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee on cooks line turned his hat backwards put on gloves without washing his hands.
- 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw beef stored overtop ready to eat sauces inside walk in cooler. Owner removed and properly stored beef. **Corrected On-Site**
- 16-33-4:Intermediate - Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer.
- 01C-05-4:Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment.
- 01C-03-4:Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served.
- 31A-11-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Handwashing sink has rice in the drain by double door refrigerator in back kitchen area.
- 01C-01-4:Intermediate - No tag on/for original container of raw, in-shell clams/mussels/oysters. See stop sale. No tags on oysters on buffet.
- 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. Bulk pasta salad made and held longer then 24 hours has no date markers inside walk in cooler.
Food safety inspection conducted on 3/17/2025 revealed 15 total violations (3 high priority, 6 intermediate, 6 basic).
Inspection on 2/11/2025
High Priority
1
Intermediate
1
Basic
0
Total
2
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 50-08-7:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Establishment unable to be licensed at time of licensing inspection from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Operator must obtain a public food service license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 60 days. Submit a license application and payment to DBPR/Bureau of Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. To apply online or obtain an application for license visit http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/ Establishment has compliance violations to comply before being able to be issued license. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-11: Unable to license at time of callback inspection **Admin Complaint**
- 51-16-7:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Freezer extended, added storage room next to water heater, dishwasher moved to other side of kitchen near office, hand wash sink removed near 3 compartment sink near dry storage and moved across from 3 compartment sink. 3 compartment sink added next to walk in cooler. Bakers section converted to server station for serving soda. Total 7 buffet tables added. Ceiling not smooth and easily cleanable above buffet tables. Oven removed near side kitchen area toward right of establishment. Server nook added across from register, with ice machine and hand sink added. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-11: No new plan submitted yet. Provided plan review application to operator at time of inspection. **Admin Complaint**
Food safety inspection conducted on 2/11/2025 revealed 2 total violations (1 high priority, 1 intermediate, 0 basic).
Inspection on 11/26/2024
High Priority
2
Intermediate
1
Basic
4
Total
7
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 36-37-5:Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Ceiling above buffet area, acoustic tile. **Warning**
- 36-36-4:Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Ceiling tile missing above beer cooler. **Warning**
- 14-09-4:Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. White cutting board on prep station **Warning**
- 02D-01-5:Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Water bottle sprayer not labeled. **Warning**
- 50-08-7:High Priority - Establishment unable to be licensed at time of licensing inspection from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Operator must obtain a public food service license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 60 days. Submit a license application and payment to DBPR/Bureau of Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783. To apply online or obtain an application for license visit http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/ Establishment has compliance violations to comply before being able to be issued license. **Warning**
- 41-10-4:High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray cleaner above plates. **Warning**
- 51-16-7:Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Freezer extended, added storage room next to water heater, dishwasher moved to other side of kitchen near office, hand wash sink removed near 3 compartment sink near dry storage and moved across from 3 compartment sink. 3 compartment sink added next to walk in cooler. Bakers section converted to server station for serving soda. Total 7 buffet tables added. Ceiling not smooth and easily cleanable above buffet tables. Oven removed near side kitchen area toward right of establishment. Server nook added across from register, with ice machine and hand sink added. **Warning**
Food safety inspection conducted on 11/26/2024 revealed 7 total violations (2 high priority, 1 intermediate, 4 basic).