1751 HOTEL PLAZA BLVD, LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL 32830
BENIHANA JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE has a mixed inspection record — 16 violations in the past year, including 3 high-priority. Not alarming, but worth knowing before you order. The trailing-year record shows 16 violations, including 3 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.
Scores higher than 9% of the 231 inspected restaurants in LAKE BUENA VISTA on the trailing-year record.
3 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Orange County average of 2.0.
Full available history. The score uses only the most recent 365 days — older visits are shown for context, not counted.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Missing or inaccurate food and equipment thermometers.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Water not safe, or hot (100°F) and cold water not available under pressure.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.
Every violation on this record falls into one of the state's standardized categories. Here is what each category covers and why inspectors check for it — in plain English, with the trailing-year count for this kitchen.
Cold food must stay at 41°F or below and hot food at 135°F or above, through receiving, holding, cooking, cooling, and reheating. The range in between is where bacteria multiply fastest, which is why temperature control is checked on nearly every visit.
On this record, the category appears in 1 of the 2 trailing-year inspections. The written details for each entry are in the state inspection documents linked above.
Dirty Dish List is built from public inspection data published by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The inspection dates, dispositions, and violations on this report card mirror what the state has on file for License No. 5804932 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.