Hardee County — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS
Hardee County, Florida has 73 food establishments with 789 inspections on record. 1 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 73.7%, below the state average of 86%. Inspections average 6.6 violations per visit.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Paleteria Mis Tesoros in Wauchula on October 29, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated May 2026.
Most-Inspected Facilities
| Business | City | Inspections | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smokin Joes BBQ | Bowling Green | 37 | 297 | 4 |
| Pioneer Restaurant | Zolfo Springs | 35 | 326 | 2 |
| Subway #27732 | Wauchula | 29 | 137 | 2 |
| Nicholas Family Restaurant | Wauchula | 32 | 338 | 1 |
| Wauchula Family Restaurant | Wauchula | 30 | 325 | 1 |
Hardee County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Hardee County
73.7%
Pass Rate
73.7%
Florida Average
86%
Pass Rate
86%
Hardee County
6.6
Avg Violations / Inspection
6.6
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Hardee County
1.37
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.37
Florida Average
1.37
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.37
Hardee County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taquitos Mi Mexico | Wauchula | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Bertha's Kitchen | Wauchula | 9 (3 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant | Wauchula | 5 | 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 |
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 Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records
In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Hardee County has 35 FDACS-regulated facilities with 71 inspections on record and 2 stop-sale orders issued.
Hardee County FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders
A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.
| Date | Facility | City | Product | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vw-winn-dixie-2250-372896 | Wauchula | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Approved Source: Food in good condition, safe… | |
| Cvs Pharmacy # 2030 Establishment #: 321118 | Wauchula | — | — |
Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →
Hardee County FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations
Browse all FDACS violation codes →
Hardee County Retail Food Chains (FDACS)
| Chain | Locations | Stop-Sale Orders | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General | 1 | 57 | 2,871 |
| Family Dollar | 1 | 316 | 950 |
| CVS | 1 | 9 | 882 |
| Dollar Tree | 1 | 9 | 1,084 |
| Sunoco | 1 | 256 | 487 |
Hardee County: Notable Restaurants
Smokin Joes BBQ
37 inspections
297 violations
4 closures
Pioneer Restaurant
35 inspections
326 violations
2 closures
Subway #27732
29 inspections
137 violations
2 closures
Nicholas Family Restaurant
32 inspections
338 violations
1 closures
Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
23 inspections
135 violations
Bertha's Kitchen
15 inspections
78 violations
Hardee County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Howies | 1 | 134 | 0 |
| Subway | 1 | 137 | 2 |
| Dunkin | 1 | 167 | 0 |
| Sonic Drive-in | 1 | 176 | 0 |
| Burger King | 1 | 116 | 0 |
| Pizza Hut | 1 | 91 | 0 |
| Wendys | 1 | 108 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 1 | 98 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 1 | 47 | 0 |
Hardee County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Hardee County?
- Hardee County, Florida has 73 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 73.7%. The Florida state average is 86%.
- 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?
- Hungry Howies has the most locations in Hardee County with 1 establishments.
- How does Hardee County compare to the Florida state average?
- Hardee County has a pass rate of 73.7%, which is 12.3 percentage points below the state average of 86%. The average violations per inspection is 6.6 compared to the state average of 4.67.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Hardee County?
- Food establishments in Hardee County have an average of 10.8 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.
- Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Hardee County inspected?
- Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Hardee County, Florida has 35 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 71 inspections on record.
- How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Hardee County?
- FDACS has issued 2 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Hardee County. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.
Hardee County Restaurants & Food Establishments (73)
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
35 inspections · 326 violations · Last: Mar 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
30 inspections · 325 violations · Last: Jan 2026Panda Rest (the) 1 closure
806 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
27 inspections · 269 violations · Last: Oct 2025Kings Fries 1 closure
4650 SR 62, Bowling Green
24 inspections · 180 violations · Last: Oct 2025Beef'o'brady's 1 closure
530 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
21 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Dec 2025Garcia's Taco Express INC 1 closure
1448 US HWY 17 N, Wauchula
22 inspections · 139 violations · Last: Dec 2025Paleteria Mis Tesoros 1 closure
401 N 6TH AVENUE, Wauchula
17 inspections · 106 violations · Last: Oct 2025Paul's Kitchen
116 N 4 AVE, Wauchula
27 inspections · 248 violations · Last: Apr 2026Main Plaza Sports Bar/ Catrina Cantina Bar/ Terra Mexican Restau
216 W MAIN STREET, Wauchula
25 inspections · 247 violations · Last: Dec 2025Noble Pursuit Florida, LLC
899 S. SIXTH AVE, Wauchula
30 inspections · 227 violations · Last: Mar 2026Glorias Restaurant I
4816 HWY 17 N, Bowling Green
25 inspections · 204 violations · Last: Dec 2025Sonic Drive-in #5092
925 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
24 inspections · 176 violations · Last: Dec 2025Dunkin
1042 S 6 AVE, Wauchula
25 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Jul 2025Giovanni'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 2026Hungry Howies #224
1038 6 AVE S, Wauchula
18 inspections · 134 violations · Last: Oct 2025