Polk County — Food Safety Records
Polk County, Florida has 1153 food establishments with 20,057 inspections on record. 17 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 87.3%, above the state average of 85.8%. Inspections average 3.3 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Taqueria Don Gonzalo LLC in Haines City, shut down July 29, 2026 for roach activity.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Sweet Cup Cafe 1 in Lakeland on November 19, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Polk County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Polk County
87.3%
Pass Rate
87.3%
Florida Average
85.8%
Pass Rate
85.8%
Polk County
3.3
Avg Violations / Inspection
3.3
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Polk County
1.47
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.47
Florida Average
2
Closures per 100 Facilities
2
Polk County Restaurants: Recent Closures (2)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taqueria Don Gonzalo LLC | Haines City | Roach activity | |
| Providence Golf Club | Davenport | Roach & fly activity |
Polk County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checkers #5790 | Winter Haven | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Maryland Fried Chicken/rice Bowl | Haines City | 11 (6 high) | Emergency order recommended | |
| Pho Tan | Lakeland | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Zarza Restaurant Latin Food & Grill | Lakeland | 4 | Warning Issued | |
| Burger King #29318 | Lakeland | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Brake Burger Garage | Lake Wales | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Hibachi Express | Lakeland | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Chick Fil a I4 and Hwy 27 | Davenport | 1 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Las Comadres Marisqueria Y Taqueria LLC | Lake Alfred | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Smokin' Dj's | Lake Wales | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Polk County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 142,959 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 123,005 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 102,740 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 100,864 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 97,732 |
Polk County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2025 | Sweet Cup Cafe 1 | $800 | 3--2025039296 |
| May 4, 2026 | Nutwood | $560 | 3--2025085932 |
| Dec 10, 2025 | Buffet City | $400 | 3--2025081155 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar | $400 | 3--2025088986 |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Market Cafe | $400 | 3--2025070984 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 2600 | $400 | 3--2026007160 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Lins Asian Bistro | $400 | 3--2026019159 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Buen Cafe | $400 | 3--2026021984 |
| Jun 10, 2026 | Lins Asian Bistro | $400 | 3--2026033738 |
| Jun 3, 2026 | Xing Xing Kitchen | $400 | 3--2026033028 |
Polk County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| 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
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice
54 inspections
298 violations
6 closures
Grriffins Restaurant Dining Sports Bar-banquet
41 inspections
222 violations
6 closures
Orange Bowl Lanes/ Lucky's
44 inspections
167 violations
6 closures
Havana Cafe Delights INC
48 inspections
294 violations
4 closures
Davenport's Sports Bar & Grill
48 inspections
325 violations
1 closures
Einstein Bros Bagels
2 inspections
7 violations
Polk County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 38 | 1,656 | 2 |
| Subway | 29 | 892 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 19 | 972 | 0 |
| Wendys | 19 | 1,172 | 1 |
| Burger King | 18 | 593 | 2 |
| Dunkin | 13 | 458 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 12 | 688 | 0 |
| Chipotle | 10 | 309 | 0 |
| Kfc | 8 | 695 | 1 |
| Checkers | 7 | 576 | 3 |
Polk County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Polk County?
- Polk County, Florida has 1153 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 87.3%. The Florida state average is 85.8%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Polk County this year?
- 17 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?
- Taqueria Don Gonzalo LLC in Haines City was shut down on July 29, 2026 for roach activity.
- How does Polk County compare to the Florida state average?
- Polk County has a pass rate of 87.3%, which is 1.5 percentage points above the state average of 85.8%. 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 17.4 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 $139,980 in fines across 356 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 27 stories ↓
Haines City Taqueria Shut Down for Roaches, Third Time Since Records Begin
Taqueria Don Gonzalo in Haines City was emergency-closed July 29 for roach activity, its third such closure, with 99 vio…
Stories You May Have Missed
- Haines City Taqueria Shut Down for Roaches, Third Time Since Records Begin
- Clermont Sweet Shop Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Davenport Restaurant Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Polk County Restaurant Inspections: Six Violations at Lake Wales Wing and Ramen Shop
- Polk County Inspections: Lake Wales Spot Hits 6 High-Severity Violations in One Week
- Lake Wales Wing Shop Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
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- Polk County Restaurant Inspections: 8 Facilities Flagged for High-Severity Violations, June 25-July 1
- Polk County's Worst Week: 8 Restaurants Flagged for High-Risk Violations, June 25-July 1
- Davenport Latin Restaurant Emergency-Closed for Roach Activity in February 2026
- Davenport Puerto Rican Restaurant Emergency-Closed for Roaches and Rodents in February
- Providence Golf Club Emergency-Closed in Davenport for Roach and Fly Activity
- Roach Activity Shut Down Bartow Airport Café in March 2026
- Davenport Café Shut Down for Fly Activity, Reopened Same Day After 28 Inspections
Polk County Restaurants & Food Establishments (1,138)
Cookie Jar Bakeshop and Eatery 1 closure
305 E MAIN ST, Bartow
13 inspections · 40 violations · Last: Apr 2026Wendy's 598 1 closure
1910 W. MEMORIAL BLVD, Lakeland
21 inspections · 39 violations · Last: May 2026Bedrock Wings 1 closure
127 KENTUCKY AVE S, Lakeland
14 inspections · 39 violations · Last: May 2026Watson Clinic Rest 1 closure
1600 LAKELAND HILLS BLVD, Lakeland
23 inspections · 36 violations · Last: Mar 2026Sky Zone Lakeland 1 closure
6220 US 98, Lakeland
13 inspections · 23 violations · Last: Oct 2025Tantrums Flightside Cafe & Catering 1 closure
5995 AIRPORT BLVD, Bartow
6 inspections · 19 violations · Last: Jun 2026Bamboo Wok
2432 SAND MINE RD, Davenport
32 inspections · 276 violations · Last: Aug 2026Andys Drive Inn Rest
703 3 ST SW, Winter Haven
33 inspections · 245 violations · Last: Mar 2026Blue Ridge Grill
1037 N BROADWAY, Bartow
34 inspections · 241 violations · Last: Jul 2026Andrea's Family Restaurant
1498 HAVENDALE BLVD, Winter Haven
26 inspections · 239 violations · Last: Jul 2026Sundays Grill
2414 SANDMINE RD, Davenport
36 inspections · 227 violations · Last: Apr 2026Mannys Chophouse
1100 3RD ST SW, Winter Haven
28 inspections · 225 violations · Last: Apr 2026Broadway Diner
1380 N BROADWAY AVE, Bartow
24 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Apr 2026Fortuna Bakery and Cafe
4812 GRANDVIEW PKWY, Davenport
24 inspections · 215 violations · Last: Feb 2026China Wok
617 US HWY 17 92 W STE 523, Haines City
29 inspections · 213 violations · Last: Jul 2026Steak N Shake
819 E MEMORIAL BLVD, Lakeland
31 inspections · 206 violations · Last: Oct 2025Antojitos Navidenos LLC
635 ROBIN RD, Lakeland
36 inspections · 204 violations · Last: Aug 2026Perkins Restaurant and Bakery 1280
150 E VAN FLEET DR, Bartow
33 inspections · 202 violations · Last: Jun 2026Terrace Hotel Restaurant
329 E MAIN ST, Lakeland
27 inspections · 200 violations · Last: Apr 2026Dundee Diner
28089 HWY 27, Dundee
28 inspections · 195 violations · Last: Apr 2026