Hardee County — Food Safety Records
Hardee County, Florida has 39 food establishments with 820 inspections on record. 2 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 71.8%, below the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 6.6 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Kings Fries in Bowling Green, shut down August 10, 2026 for no warewashing facilities.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Paleteria Mis Tesoros in Wauchula on October 29, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.
Hardee County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Hardee County
71.8%
Pass Rate
71.8%
Florida Average
85.7%
Pass Rate
85.7%
Hardee County
6.6
Avg Violations / Inspection
6.6
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Hardee County
5.13
Closures per 100 Facilities
5.13
Florida Average
1.98
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.98
Hardee County Restaurants: Recent Closures (2)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Fries | Bowling Green | No warewashing facilities | |
| McDonald's Restaurants of Florida INC | Wauchula | Rodent activity |
Hardee County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taquitos Mi Mexico | Wauchula | 5 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Kathy's Kitchen INC | Wauchula | 12 (4 high) | Warning Issued | |
| La Michoacana Ice Cream 2 | Wauchula | 5 (1 high) | Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended | |
| La Michoacana Ice Cream 2 | Wauchula | 10 (1 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Java Cafe | Wauchula | 7 (3 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Tacos Isabel | Wauchula | 6 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Wendys 8590 | Wauchula | 9 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Bowl of Fun Lanes, LLC | Wauchula | 6 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Noble Pursuit Florida, LLC | Wauchula | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Subway #27732 | Wauchula | 4 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Hardee County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 13,459 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 7,587 |
| 31 | Clean multi-use utensils | 7,580 |
| 33 | Proper cooling equipment | 7,358 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 6,352 |
Hardee County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2025 | Paleteria Mis Tesoros | $800 | 7--2025045551 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | Smokin Joes BBQ | $200 | 7--2026014891 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | La Michoacana Ice Cream 2 | $160 | 7--2025089657 |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Main Plaza Sports Bar/ Catrina Cantina Bar/ Terra Mexican Restau | $160 | 7--2026056623 |
Hardee County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Exit blocked or locked | 9 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 6 |
| Other fire safety violation | 3 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 1 |
Hardee County: Notable Restaurants
Smokin Joes BBQ
38 inspections
309 violations
4 closures
Pioneer Restaurant
36 inspections
334 violations
2 closures
Kings Fries
26 inspections
196 violations
2 closures
Nicholas Family Restaurant
32 inspections
338 violations
1 closures
Kathy's Kitchen INC
2 inspections
12 violations
Taquitos Mi Mexico
23 inspections
86 violations
Hardee County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Howies | 1 | 134 | 0 |
| Subway | 1 | 141 | 2 |
| Dunkin | 1 | 169 | 0 |
| Sonic Drive-in | 1 | 181 | 0 |
| Burger King | 1 | 116 | 0 |
| Pizza Hut | 1 | 91 | 0 |
| Wendys | 1 | 117 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 1 | 106 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 1 | 49 | 0 |
Hardee County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Hardee County?
- Hardee County, Florida has 39 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Hardee County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Hardee County is 71.8%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Hardee County this year?
- 2 food establishments in Hardee County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Hardee County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Hardee County are: Food contact surfaces, Proper hand/arm washing, Clean multi-use utensils.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Hardee County?
- Hungry Howies has the most locations in Hardee County with 1 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Hardee County?
- Kings Fries in Bowling Green was shut down on August 10, 2026 for no warewashing facilities.
- How does Hardee County compare to the Florida state average?
- Hardee County has a pass rate of 71.8%, which is 13.9 percentage points below the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 6.6 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Hardee County?
- Food establishments in Hardee County have an average of 21 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Hardee County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Hardee County have been assessed $13,640 in fines across 30 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $455 and the largest single fine was $1,040.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Hardee County restaurants?
- 19 fire safety violations have been documented across 11 food establishments in Hardee County. The most common issue is exit blocked or locked.
In the News Hardee County
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Wauchula Wendy's Had 6 High-Severity Violations in August and Stayed Open
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Hardee County Restaurants & Food Establishments (39)
Smokin Joes BBQ 4 closures
4050 HWY 17 N, Bowling Green
38 inspections · 309 violations · Last: Aug 2026Pioneer Restaurant 2 closures
COR HWY 64/US HWY 17, Zolfo Springs
36 inspections · 334 violations · Last: May 2026Kings Fries 2 closures
4650 SR 62, Bowling Green
26 inspections · 196 violations · Last: Aug 2026Subway #27732 2 closures
1444 US HWY 17, Wauchula
30 inspections · 141 violations · Last: Aug 2026Nicholas Family Restaurant 1 closure
615 N 6 AVE, Wauchula
32 inspections · 338 violations · Last: May 2025Wauchula Family Restaurant 1 closure
502 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
31 inspections · 334 violations · Last: Jul 2026Panda Rest (the) 1 closure
806 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
29 inspections · 295 violations · Last: Jul 2026Beef'o'brady's 1 closure
530 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
22 inspections · 178 violations · Last: Jun 2026Garcia's Taco Express INC 1 closure
1448 US HWY 17 N, Wauchula
23 inspections · 149 violations · Last: Jul 2026Paleteria Mis Tesoros 1 closure
401 N 6TH AVENUE, Wauchula
17 inspections · 106 violations · Last: Oct 2025McDonald's Restaurants of Florida INC 1 closure
907 US HWY 17, Wauchula
19 inspections · 106 violations · Last: Jul 2026Main Plaza Sports Bar/ Catrina Cantina Bar/ Terra Mexican Restau
216 W MAIN STREET, Wauchula
27 inspections · 263 violations · Last: Jul 2026Paul's Kitchen
116 N 4 AVE, Wauchula
27 inspections · 248 violations · Last: Apr 2026Noble Pursuit Florida, LLC
899 S. SIXTH AVE, Wauchula
31 inspections · 230 violations · Last: Aug 2026Glorias Restaurant I
4816 HWY 17 N, Bowling Green
26 inspections · 220 violations · Last: Aug 2026Sonic Drive-in #5092
925 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
25 inspections · 181 violations · Last: Jul 2026Dunkin
1042 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
26 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Jul 2026Giovanni's Main Street Kitchen
221 W MAIN ST, Wauchula
21 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Mar 2026Java Cafe
202 W MAIN ST, Wauchula
26 inspections · 155 violations · Last: Aug 2026Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
1476 US HYW 17 N, Wauchula
23 inspections · 135 violations · Last: Apr 2026
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