This visit closed with no further action required.
CHOW'S COUNTRY BUFFET
4250 SOUTHSIDE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32216
State inspectors have documented 9 high-priority violations at CHOW'S COUNTRY BUFFET over the past year. That's the kind that can make you sick. Consider the alternatives below. The trailing-year record shows 42 violations, including 9 high-priority and 0 Emergency Orders of Closure.
Scores higher than 9% of the 2323 inspected restaurants in JACKSONVILLE on the trailing-year record.
9 high-priority violations on the trailing-year record — above the Duval County average of 3.3.
The Inspection Record
14 inspectionsFull available history. The score uses only the most recent 365 days — older visits are shown for context, not counted.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
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.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
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.
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Clean equipment and utensils stored improperly or not air-dried.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Mops, brooms, and other cleaning and maintenance equipment stored or maintained improperly.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
High-risk food (like meat) thawed improperly, promoting bacterial growth.
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Missing hair or beard restraint, dirty work clothes, jewelry, or painted/artificial fingernails during food prep.
Shelves, counters, handles, or equipment exteriors soiled with grease, debris, or dust.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.
This visit closed with no further action required.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Raw meat, poultry, or seafood not separated from ready-to-eat food, or food left unprotected during prep, storage, or display.
Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Workers handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands without an approved alternative procedure.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.
Scoops and other in-use utensils stored improperly (e.g. handle down in the food).
Dirty wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer, or soiled linens handled improperly.
Employee jackets, phones, drinks, or other personal items stored where they can contaminate food.
This visit closed with no further action required.
Roaches, rodents, flies, or other pests present — or doors and openings that let them in not protected.
Missing or inaccurate food and equipment thermometers.
Missing consumer advisory for raw or undercooked items, ready-to-eat food not date-marked, or food not properly labeled.
Dish machine or sinks not set up or working properly, or missing sanitizer test kit and gauges.
Other conditions related to sanitary and safe operation.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Gas appliance or boiler certificate issue.
The establishment's license expired, not obtained, or not properly displayed.
Violation categories, explained
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 3 of the 5 trailing-year inspections. The written details for each entry are in the state inspection documents linked above.
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. 2612182 — you can read the original documents yourself and compare.