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
Apr 27, 2026 Lins Asian Bistro $400 3--2026019159
Jun 24, 2026 Buen Cafe $400 3--2026021984
Mar 19, 2026 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 2600 $400 3--2026007160
Jun 10, 2026 Lins Asian Bistro $400 3--2026033738
Jun 3, 2026 Xing Xing Kitchen $400 3--2026033028
Aug 13, 2026 Wingstop $400 3--2026033033
Apr 9, 2026 El Toque Latin Restaurant $400 3--2026013436

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
Exit blocked or locked 18
Missing boiler certificate/report 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.

In the News Polk County

See all 49 stories ↓

Stories You May Have Missed

Polk County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,207)

Sofresh

4756 S FLORIDA AVE, Lakeland

27 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Bubbaques

2444 HWY 92 E, Lakeland

25 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Carrabba's Italian Grill

910 3 ST SW, Winter Haven

24 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Longhorn Steakhouse of W. Haven

875 1ST ST SW, Winter Haven

26 inspections · 114 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Nutwood

132 AVE B SW, Winter Haven

25 inspections · 113 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Gaskins Barbecue & Lobster

1614 TOWN CENTER DR, Lakeland

22 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Downtown Pizza & Sports Bar

219 E MAIN ST STE B, Dundee

23 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Hibachi2u

7870 LAKE WILSON RD, Davenport

22 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Saigon Garden LLC

5937 CYPRESS GARDEN BLVD STE 100, Winter Haven

26 inspections · 112 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Denny's #7654

44111 N HWY 27, Davenport

25 inspections · 111 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Big Daddy's Barbeque 26

1380 N 1 ST, Winter Haven

29 inspections · 111 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Soup'r Cubans

1502 NW 42 ST, Winter Haven

28 inspections · 111 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Piper Golf Club

8575 WHITE SHARK BLVD, Champions Gate

24 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Jones Foods LLC

3509 US HWY 98 N, Lakeland

28 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Uncle Nicks Bagels and Subs

6955 OLD HWY 37, Lakeland

31 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Riverside Express Seafood Market

130 E MEMORIAL BLVD, Lakeland

22 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Thai Oishi

1535 TOWN CENTER DR, Lakeland

31 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Palace Italian Restaurant

6120 US 98 N, Lakeland

32 inspections · 110 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Gosh! Pan-asian Bistro & Sushi Bar

4742 S FLORIDA AVE UNIT 4, Lakeland

25 inspections · 109 violations · Last: Jul 2026

China Park

7120 CYPRESS GARDEN BLVD, Winter Haven

23 inspections · 109 violations · Last: Mar 2026