Polk County — Food Safety Records

Overview

Polk County, Florida has 1218 food establishments with 20,457 inspections on record. 18 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 87%, above the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 3.3 violations per visit.

Most recent closure: Wendys 595 in Davenport, shut down September 8, 2026 for roach activity.

Largest fine: $800 assessed to Sweet Cup Cafe 1 in Lakeland on November 19, 2025.

Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.

1,218Facilities
20,457Inspections
18Closures 2026
87%Pass Rate
3.3Avg Violations

Polk County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages

Polk County 87% Pass Rate 87%
Florida Average 85.7% Pass Rate 85.7%
Polk County 3.3 Avg Violations / Inspection 3.3
Florida Average 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Polk County 1.48 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.48
Florida Average 1.96 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.96

Polk County Restaurants: Recent Closures (5)

DateBusinessCityReason
Wendys 595 DavenportRoach activity
Arabellas Ristorante Winter HavenRodent activity
Neapolitan Italian Eatery Haines CityRoach activity
Maryland Fried Chicken/rice Bowl Haines CityRoach & rodent activity
Taqueria Don Gonzalo LLC Haines CityRoach activity

Polk County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)

DateBusinessCityViolationsResult
Zaxby's Haines City3 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Chile Verde Tex Mex Mexican Restaurant Corp Winter Haven4 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Crab Craze LLC Winter Haven2 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Mi Pueblo Restaurant Lakeland6 Warning Issued
Tradewinds Restaurant Davenport4 Call Back - Complied
Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders Auburndale1 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Taco Califast Winter Heaven2 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
T a Slammers INC Lakeland1 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Il Forno Restaurant & Pizzeria Lakeland5 (2 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Outback Steakhouse Lakeland2 Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

Polk County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations

Polk County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines

359Actions on Record
$141,020Total Fines
$414Avg Fine
$3,000Largest Fine
238Facilities Fined

Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)

DateBusinessFineCase
Nov 19, 2025 Sweet Cup Cafe 1 $800 3--2025039296
May 4, 2026 Nutwood $560 3--2025085932
Aug 6, 2026 Antojitos Navidenos LLC $440 3--2026024491
Mar 30, 2026 El Kiosko 38 Puerto Rican Food $400 3--2026013473
Jan 29, 2026 Global Foody Lovers $400 3--2025090862
Dec 15, 2025 Market Cafe $400 3--2025070984
Jan 12, 2026 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar $400 3--2025088986
Dec 10, 2025 Buffet City $400 3--2025081155
Apr 27, 2026 Lins Asian Bistro $400 3--2026019159
Jun 24, 2026 Buen Cafe $400 3--2026021984

Polk County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations

139Fire Violations
89Facilities Cited

Most Common Fire Safety Issues

IssueCitations
Other fire safety violation 37
Fire extinguisher in red zone 33
Cooking without hood suppression 23
Missing boiler certificate/report 18
Exit blocked or locked 18
Propane tank stored inside building 10

Polk County: Notable Restaurants

Polk County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)

ChainLocationsViolationsClosures
McDonalds 38 1,669 2
Subway 29 897 0
Wendys 19 1,197 2
Taco Bell 19 990 0
Burger King 18 597 2
Dunkin 13 464 0
Hungry Howies 12 693 0
Chipotle 10 321 0
Kfc 8 708 1
Checkers 7 581 3

Polk County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ

How many restaurants are in Polk County?
Polk County, Florida has 1218 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Polk County?
The current pass rate for food establishments in Polk County is 87%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
How many restaurants were shut down in Polk County this year?
18 food establishments in Polk County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
What are the most common health violations in Polk County?
The most frequently cited violations in Polk County are: Consumer advisory, Food contact surfaces, Proper hand/arm washing.
Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Polk County?
McDonalds has the most locations in Polk County with 38 establishments.
What was the most recent restaurant closure in Polk County?
Wendys 595 in Davenport was shut down on September 8, 2026 for roach activity.
How does Polk County compare to the Florida state average?
Polk County has a pass rate of 87%, which is 1.3 percentage points above the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 3.3 compared to the state average of 4.68.
How often are restaurants inspected in Polk County?
Food establishments in Polk County have an average of 16.8 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
How much in fines have restaurants in Polk County been assessed?
Food establishments in Polk County have been assessed $141,020 in fines across 359 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $414 and the largest single fine was $3,000.
How many fire safety violations have been found in Polk County restaurants?
139 fire safety violations have been documented across 89 food establishments in Polk County. The most common issue is other fire safety violation.

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Polk County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,207)

Beef O'brady's

4810 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland

28 inspections · 176 violations · Last: Sep 2025

1st Street Diner

106 AVE I SE, Winter Haven

25 inspections · 174 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Chinese to Go

45689 US HWY 27, Davenport

28 inspections · 171 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Chen's Duck and Dumplings

5125 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland

20 inspections · 170 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Thailicious27

101 AMBERSWEET WAY, Davenport

30 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Sizzling Grill

21400 US HWY 27, Lake Wales

25 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Denny's

894 CYPRESS GARDENS BLVD, Winter Haven

30 inspections · 168 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Lake Wales Family Restaurant

109 SR 60 W, Lake Wales

23 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Azul Tequila Mexican Cuisine 2

4541 MACEY LN, Lake Wales

25 inspections · 165 violations · Last: Sep 2026

China Park

46 MAXCY PLAZA CIR, Haines City

27 inspections · 165 violations · Last: May 2026

Stonegate Golf Club - the Grill @ Stonegate

404 VILLAGE DR, Poinciana

35 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Eddie's Restaurant

1524 3 ST SW, Winter Haven

24 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Pho Tan

2920 S COMBEE RD, Lakeland

37 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Sep 2026

All Star Grill

2019 SR 60 E, Lake Wales

21 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Margarita's Cocina Mexicana

45653 HWY 27, Davenport

34 inspections · 162 violations · Last: May 2026

Egg Factory

1533 S COMBEE RD, Lakeland

22 inspections · 160 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Beijing

3005 CYPRESS GARDEN RD, Winter Haven

26 inspections · 159 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Pizzeria Valdiano

1610 TOWN CENTER DR, Lakeland

29 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Sep 2026

China Chen Lakeland INC

2614 US HWY 92 E, Lakeland

25 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Burger 21 Lakeland

1601 TOWN CENTER DR SPACE H102, Lakeland

29 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Mar 2026