Hardee County — Food Safety Records
Hardee County, Florida has 38 food establishments with 808 inspections on record. 1 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 71.1%, below the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 6.6 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: McDonald's Restaurants of Florida INC in Wauchula, shut down July 8, 2026 for rodent activity.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Paleteria Mis Tesoros in Wauchula on October 29, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Hardee County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Hardee County
71.1%
Pass Rate
71.1%
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
2.63
Closures per 100 Facilities
2.63
Florida Average
2.02
Closures per 100 Facilities
2.02
Hardee County Restaurants: Recent Closures (1)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's Restaurants of Florida INC | Wauchula | Rodent activity |
Hardee County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glorias Restaurant I | Bowling Green | 16 (3 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Kings Fries | Bowling Green | 12 (2 high) | Emergency order recommended | |
| Kings Fries | Bowling Green | 4 | Emergency Order Callback Complied | |
| Sonic Drive-in #5092 | Wauchula | 5 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Wauchula Family Restaurant | Wauchula | 9 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Taco Bell | Wauchula | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Garcia's Taco Express INC | Wauchula | 10 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Panda Rest (the) | Wauchula | 10 (2 high) | Call Back - Complied | |
| Main Plaza Sports Bar/ Catrina Cantina Bar/ Terra Mexican Restau | Wauchula | 3 | Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended |
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 |
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
37 inspections
297 violations
4 closures
Pioneer Restaurant
36 inspections
334 violations
2 closures
Subway #27732
29 inspections
137 violations
2 closures
Nicholas Family Restaurant
32 inspections
338 violations
1 closures
Kings Fries
26 inspections
196 violations
1 closures
Glorias Restaurant I
26 inspections
220 violations
Hardee County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkin | 1 | 169 | 0 |
| Sonic Drive-in | 1 | 181 | 0 |
| Burger King | 1 | 116 | 0 |
| Pizza Hut | 1 | 91 | 0 |
| Wendys | 1 | 108 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 1 | 106 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 1 | 49 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 1 | 134 | 0 |
| Subway | 1 | 137 | 2 |
Hardee County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Hardee County?
- Hardee County, Florida has 38 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 71.1%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Hardee County this year?
- 1 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?
- Dunkin has the most locations in Hardee County with 1 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Hardee County?
- McDonald's Restaurants of Florida INC in Wauchula was shut down on July 8, 2026 for rodent activity.
- How does Hardee County compare to the Florida state average?
- Hardee County has a pass rate of 71.1%, which is 14.7 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 21.3 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 $13,480 in fines across 29 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $465 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
Wauchula Family Restaurant Stays Open Despite 7 High-Severity Violations
State inspectors cited Wauchula Family Restaurant for food from unapproved sources and improper handwashing on July 29, …
Hardee County Restaurants & Food Establishments (38)
Smokin Joes BBQ 4 closures
4050 HWY 17 N, Bowling Green
37 inspections · 297 violations · Last: Jan 2026Pioneer Restaurant 2 closures
COR HWY 64/US HWY 17, Zolfo Springs
36 inspections · 334 violations · Last: May 2026Subway #27732 2 closures
1444 US HWY 17, Wauchula
29 inspections · 137 violations · Last: Sep 2025Nicholas 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 2026Kings Fries 1 closure
4650 SR 62, Bowling Green
26 inspections · 196 violations · Last: Aug 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
30 inspections · 227 violations · Last: Mar 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
25 inspections · 148 violations · Last: Mar 2026Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
1476 US HYW 17 N, Wauchula
23 inspections · 135 violations · Last: Apr 2026
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