Lakeland — Food Safety Records
Lakeland, Florida has 444 food establishments with 8,367 inspections on record. 4 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 82%, below the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 3.5 violations per visit.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Sweet Cup Cafe 1 in Lakeland on November 19, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Lakeland Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Lakeland
82%
Pass Rate
82%
Florida Average
85.7%
Pass Rate
85.7%
Lakeland
3.5
Avg Violations / Inspection
3.5
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Lakeland
0.9
Closures per 100 Facilities
0.9
Florida Average
2.04
Closures per 100 Facilities
2.04
Lakeland Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granger and Sons Bar-b-que | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Cozy Oaks Restaurant | 4 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Fords Garage | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Hondumex Taqueria | 3 | Warning Issued | |
| Sonic Drive-in 6669 | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Go | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Isle of Capri | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Outback Steakhouse | 4 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Paleteria Y Taqueria Guerrense | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Elena's Cuban Cafe | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Lakeland Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 58,514 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 42,023 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 41,941 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 40,964 |
| 31 | Clean multi-use utensils | 38,160 |
Lakeland Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2025 | Sweet Cup Cafe 1 | $800 | 3--2025039296 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Shanghai Chinese Restaurant | $400 | 3--2025089063 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Strawberry Hut | $400 | 3--2026019157 |
| Nov 6, 2025 | Orange Bowl Lanes/ Lucky's | $400 | 3--2025039807 |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Xing Xing Kitchen | $400 | 3--2026033028 |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Spice Thai Sushi | $400 | 3--2025067755 |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Denny's 6824 | $400 | 3--2025059956 |
| Aug 14, 2025 | Egg Factory of South Lakeland | $400 | 3--2025054720 |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Chop Shop | $300 | 3--2025092074 |
| Sep 17, 2025 | Moe's Southwest Grill | $200 | 3--2025060868 |
Lakeland Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 17 |
| Other fire safety violation | 15 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 9 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 7 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 6 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 4 |
Lakeland: Notable Restaurants
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice
54 inspections
298 violations
6 closures
Orange Bowl Lanes/ Lucky's
44 inspections
167 violations
6 closures
Beef 'o' Brady's
41 inspections
218 violations
4 closures
Moe's Southwest Grill
46 inspections
233 violations
2 closures
Buffalo Wild Wings Go
2 inspections
3 violations
Sonic Drive-in 6669
22 inspections
70 violations
Lakeland: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 15 | 726 | 1 |
| Subway | 12 | 321 | 0 |
| Burger King | 8 | 231 | 2 |
| Wendys | 8 | 414 | 1 |
| Taco Bell | 6 | 346 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 4 | 142 | 0 |
| Dominos | 4 | 114 | 0 |
| Kfc | 4 | 361 | 1 |
| Waffle House | 3 | 337 | 0 |
| Arbys | 3 | 96 | 0 |
Lakeland Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Lakeland?
- Lakeland, Florida has 444 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Lakeland?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Lakeland is 82%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Lakeland this year?
- 4 food establishments in Lakeland have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Lakeland?
- The most frequently cited violations in Lakeland are: Consumer advisory, Food contact surfaces, Chemical properly stored.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Lakeland?
- McDonalds has the most locations in Lakeland with 15 establishments.
- How does Lakeland compare to the Florida state average?
- Lakeland has a pass rate of 82%, which is 3.7 percentage points below the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 3.5 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Lakeland?
- Food establishments in Lakeland have an average of 18.8 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Lakeland been assessed?
- Food establishments in Lakeland have been assessed $90,045 in fines across 211 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $450 and the largest single fine was $3,000.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Lakeland restaurants?
- 58 fire safety violations have been documented across 42 food establishments in Lakeland. The most common issue is fire extinguisher in red zone.
In the News Lakeland
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Lakeland Restaurants & Food Establishments (441)
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice 6 closures
3815 FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
54 inspections · 298 violations · Last: Jul 2026Orange Bowl Lanes/ Lucky's 6 closures
4318 US 98 N, Lakeland
44 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Jan 2026Beef 'o' Brady's 4 closures
4515 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
41 inspections · 218 violations · Last: Feb 2026Spice Thai Sushi 4 closures
3895 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
37 inspections · 193 violations · Last: Jul 2026Fire Hot Pot & BBQ 4 closures
4250 US 98 N, Lakeland
39 inspections · 159 violations · Last: Apr 2026Rositas Mexican Restaurant 4 closures
741 N WABASH AVE, Lakeland
28 inspections · 108 violations · Last: Jul 2026Cheng's Panda World LLC 3 closures
6214 US HWY 98 N, Lakeland
29 inspections · 142 violations · Last: May 2026Shanghai Chinese Restaurant 3 closures
2344 GRIFFIN RD, Lakeland
29 inspections · 136 violations · Last: Jun 2026China Wok 3 closures
3800 US HIGHWAY 98 N, Lakeland
33 inspections · 105 violations · Last: Jul 2026Hibachi Buffet 2 closures
901 MEMORIAL BLVD, Lakeland
43 inspections · 381 violations · Last: Apr 2026Moe's Southwest Grill 2 closures
1326 TOWN CENTER DR E, Lakeland
46 inspections · 233 violations · Last: Aug 2026Lings Buffet 2 closures
4320 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
36 inspections · 216 violations · Last: Jun 2026Egg Factory of South Lakeland 2 closures
6960 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
35 inspections · 210 violations · Last: Jul 2026China Garden 2 closures
1527 BARTOW RD, Lakeland
29 inspections · 185 violations · Last: Jul 2026Gators Dockside Highland City 2 closures
5147 US 98 S, Lakeland
28 inspections · 160 violations · Last: Mar 2026Dona Julia's Restaurant 2 closures
5375 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland
33 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Aug 2026Il Forno Restaurant & Pizzeria 2 closures
3615 S FLORIDA AVE STE 1310, Lakeland
30 inspections · 153 violations · Last: Apr 2026Ole Tampa Cuban Shop 2 closures
4525 S FLORIDA AVE STE 31, Lakeland
31 inspections · 137 violations · Last: Aug 2026Red Top Pit Stop 2 closures
12160 US HWY 98 N, Lakeland
41 inspections · 134 violations · Last: May 2026Costilla Grill Mexican Restaurant 2 closures
223 N WABASH AVE, Lakeland
32 inspections · 118 violations · Last: Jul 2026