License No. 6308061|Public Food Service Establishment|Polk County, FloridaInspected Jul 16, 2026
State of Florida Inspection Record

CHINA GARDEN

1527 BARTOW RD, LAKELAND, FL 33801

State inspectors have documented 3 high-priority violations at CHINA GARDEN over the past year. That's the kind that can make you sick. Consider the alternatives below. The trailing-year record shows 19 violations, including 3 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.

Serious
46.5
Trailing year of inspections
How this kitchen compares
Against LAKELAND

Scores higher than 3% of the 493 inspected restaurants in LAKELAND on the trailing-year record.

46.5
Lowest scoreCity median · 87.8Highest score
Against Polk County

3 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Polk County average of 0.8.

This kitchen3
County average0.8
Above county average
Computed from the trailing-year records of all inspected restaurants in the same city and county. Official State of Florida inspection data — scores calculated by this site.

The Inspection Record

9 inspections

Full available history. The score uses only the most recent 365 days — older visits are shown for context, not counted.

Visit 01 — Routine - Food
Jul 16, 2026
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Raw-food separation & protection
Repeat — 3rd time

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Dirty food-contact surfaces
Repeat — 4th time

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic×2
In-use utensil storage
Repeat — 3rd time

Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 02 — Routine - Food
Mar 24, 2026
Disposition
Follow-up - Admin. complaint recommended
Employee health
Repeat — 2nd time

A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.

Intermediate×2
Manager certification & training
Repeat — 3rd time

Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 7th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic
Other sanitary & safe operation
Repeat — 2nd time

Other conditions related to sanitary and safe operation.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 03 — Routine - Food
Jan 21, 2026
Disposition
Warning Issued
Employee health

A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.

Intermediate×2
Handwash sinks & supplies
Repeat — 3rd time

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate
Manager certification & training
Repeat — 2nd time

Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 6th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×2
Hair restraints & clean clothes
Repeat — 2nd time

Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.

Basic
Non-food surfaces dirty

Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.

Basic
License current & displayed
Repeat — 2nd time

The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.

Basic
Other sanitary & safe operation

Other conditions related to sanitary and safe operation.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 04 — Routine - Food
Aug 19, 2025
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Handwashing & employee habits

Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.

High-priority
Wiping cloths & linens

Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.

Basic
Dirty food-contact surfaces
Repeat — 3rd time

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 05 — Routine - Food
Jan 14, 2025
Disposition
Follow-up inspection · Compliance recordedCall Back - Complied
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 5th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×2
In-use utensil storage
Repeat — 2nd time

Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 06 — Routine - Food
Nov 12, 2024
Disposition
Warning Issued
Raw-food separation & protection
Repeat — 2nd time

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Manager certification & training

Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 4th time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic×2
In-use utensil storage

Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).

Basic
Hair restraints & clean clothes

Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.

Basic
Single-service articles
Repeat — 3rd time

Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 07 — Routine - Food
Jul 23, 2024
Disposition
Administrative complaint recommended
Handwash sinks & supplies
Repeat — 2nd time

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 3rd time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic
Dirty food-contact surfaces
Repeat — 2nd time

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic
License current & displayed

The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 08 — Routine - Food
Dec 19, 2023
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Equipment & surface condition
Repeat — 2nd time

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic
Dirty food-contact surfaces

Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.

Basic
Single-service articles
Repeat — 2nd time

Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
Visit 09 — Routine - Food
Oct 19, 2023
Disposition
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Food at unsafe temperature

Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.

High-priority
Raw-food separation & protection

Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.

High-priority
Handwash sinks & supplies

Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.

Intermediate
Equipment & surface condition

Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.

Basic
Single-service articles

Single-use items (cups, straws, to-go containers) stored or handled improperly.

Basic
Source: State of FloridaState inspection document
What the violations mean

Violation categories, explained

19 violations · 11 categories

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.

Raw meat, poultry, and seafood must be kept away from ready-to-eat food, and all food must be protected during prep, storage, and display. Inspectors treat separation seriously because raw-food drips and splashes carry pathogens onto food that will not be cooked again.

On this record, the category appears in 1 of the 3 trailing-year inspections. The written details for each entry are in the state inspection documents linked above.

† Item numbers refer to the State of Florida’s standardized inspection form; the same item recurring across visits indicates an unresolved problem. Severity groupings and the sanitation score are explained in How it works.
Check our work

The inspection record above comes straight from the state's files.

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. 6308061 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.

License on file
6308061
Inspected
Jul 16, 2026
Scoring
Trailing-year aggregate — How it works
Official State of Florida inspection records Opens myfloridalicense.com — the state's public inspection search
Official State of Florida inspection data — scores calculated by this site
Dirty Dish List.

Official inspection data, translated for the people who eat here.

SOURCE: STATE OF FLORIDA
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