China Buffet
Last inspected: Jan 14, 2026
47
Score
Public records show 10 inspections at China Buffet stretching back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Jan 14, 2026. A high risk tier suggests the facility had a rough recent inspection, with multiple violations on record.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around 10 violations lately and about 16 violations before that.
Across the inspection history, “no paper towels” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.
That's lower than the typical Jacksonville restaurant, which scores around 74. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 14, 2026
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
47
Jan 5, 2026
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 12 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
33
Sep 19, 2025
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
32
Aug 18, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
14
Feb 21, 2025
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 15 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Single-Use/Single-Service Articles Properly Stored and Used
FL-45
7
Aug 20, 2024
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 3 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 20 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed two flying insects in kitchen area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler, raw chicken stored over ready to eat Krab sticks. Manager moved to correct storage levels. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Server handled soiled dishes or utensils and then picked up plated food, served food, or prepared a beverage without washing hands. When entering the kitchen, observed employee drop tongs, then immediately proceeded to put tongs back on food without washing hands or washing utensils. Manager coached employee on proper hand washing. Food the tongs touched was voluntarily discarded.
12A-02-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. When entering the kitchen, observed employee drop tongs, then immediately proceeded to put tongs back on food without washing hands or washing utensils. Manager coached employee on proper hand washing. Food the tongs touched was voluntarily discarded. Observed fly land on tray of crab Rangoon that was being prepped in kitchen. Operator voluntarily discarded tray of crab Rangoon.
01B-13-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At standing reach in cooler in kitchen, salad mix (47F - Cold Holding). Manager stated door was open and closed constantly during lunch rush.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. Sushi rice is kept on time but has no time marking. Manager added time marking.
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash station in kitchen by standing reach in cooler, dirty dish and dirty rag in sink. Manager removed both. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station on server station, no paper towels. Manager supplied. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk in walk in cooler opened two days prior, per manager was not dated. Manager added date. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-03-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In stored flour container by back door, to go bowl used as scooper. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Above walk in cooler and walk in freezer in kitchen, three ceiling tiles missing.
36-36-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Above flip top cooler on make line, employee drink with no lid. Manager moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-12-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Door of walk in cooler is damaged with metal around frame bent, showing sharp edges. White chest reach in freezer broken, door hanging at an angle. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored in a location that is exposed to splash/dust. Next to hand wash station in kitchen by standing reach in cooler, crunchy salad and soup topping exposed to splash. Manager moved toppings away from splash area.
08B-36-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. On ground in kitchen next to fryers, case of cooking oil. Manager removed from ground. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Dumpster lid open. Employee closed lid. **Corrected On-Site**
33-16-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Back door not self closing, held open with string that is tied to outside wall.
35B-03-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler, washed and portioned vegetables stored under unwashed produce. Manager moved to correct storage levels. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. At hand wash station in kitchen adjacent to walk in cooler, faucet leaking when turned off.
29-11-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have build up of grease. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
17
Mar 4, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Spray hose at dish sink lower than flood rim of sink. Spray hose near dish machine in kitchen.
29-37-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Missing on outside faucet near rear exit door where green hose is attached.
29-34-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler, pans of raw chicken stored over ready to eat pan of cooked corn. Items moved and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. In hibachi area in self serve cooler, three cracked shelled eggs stored with 11 others. Eggs discarded.
01B-14-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand washing sink in hibachi area. Hand washing sink in dish area. Hand washing sink on cook line. Towels provided. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Hand washing sink on cook line. **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand washing sink in server area by dining area as evidenced by ice in sink.
31A-11-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic bowl used in "fried mix" used as scoop. Bowl discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Cardboard used to line food-contact shelves. Cardboard under soy sauce in dry storage area.
14-05-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Multiple server drinks on counter next to clean blue plastic cups in server area.
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Two employee drinks on counter in server area have no lid.
12B-12-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Blue plastic cups in dish area of kitchen.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. White chest freezer in sushi area is broken and repaired with duct tape. Floors in walk in coolers and walk in freezer are warped and cracked.
14-11-5
Basic - Floors, walls, and/or ceilings soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor around mop sink area.
36-73-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of oil on floor in hibachi area. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Shelves for dry canned goods near employee restroom.
23-03-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Packages of krab meat stored on speed rack in kitchen near cook line. Krab moved to walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
25
Oct 31, 2023
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine reading 10ppm, machine ran multiple times, retest at 50ppm **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Multiple racks of plates and containers ran through dish machine only reading 10ppm chlorine, retest at 50ppm.
22-45-4
High Priority - Improper sewage disposal. Establishment rinsing off equipment and sheets pans used in food preparation outside near back door to kitchen. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
28-28-5
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 6/1/2023 **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw pork mixture, removed from original packaging, stored over cooked cage cakes in walk in freezer. Also raw chicken stored over raw beef in walk in freezer, both items removed from original packaging. Also raw shrimp stored over bucket of sauce in walk in cooler. Also raw beef stored over various buckets of sauce in walk in cooler. All items rearranged during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-02-6
Intermediate - Serving utensil not provided for each food item at self-service salad bar/buffet. Missing fro 4 different kinds of sushi rolls, 1 dessert, and 1 for whole eggs. **Repeat Violation**
08B-07-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station next to hibachi grill in buffet area. At hand wash station next to dish washer. In employee bathroom in kitchen. At hand wash station in server area.
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. At hand wash station in dish area. At hand wash station in employee bathroom in kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall juncture broken/missing. Through kitchen, dining area, and bathrooms. Also thresholds of walk in coolers and walk in freezer.
36-03-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Under soda machines in server area in dining room. **Repeat Violation**
36-73-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of cooking oil at hibachi station at buffet area. Containers of cooking oil on cook line. Containers of sauce in dry storage area. Employee corrected during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. In women's bathroom.
31B-04-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected with self-closing doors. Back door in kitchen closest to dish area. **Repeat Violation**
35B-03-4
27
Mar 23, 2023
Complaint Full
No violations found.
100
Dec 16, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Per manager they have left the invoice that have their proof of parasite destruction at home. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-12-16: Per manager and what inspector observed during inspection they are only offering raw salmon in their sushi rolls and sashimi, the only package that is on site says salmon was farm raised, but nothing about feed to prevent parasites. Non-exempt fish may not be served raw or undercooked. Consumer Advisory must be in place. **Time Extended**
01D-01-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 4 employee do not have any proof of training. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint** - From follow-up inspection 2022-12-16: Establishment provided certifications for some employees, but per manager they are waiting on more training books. **Time Extended**
53B-02-5
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was China Buffet last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at China Buffet on file is from Jan 14, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at China Buffet?
Across the inspection record, “no paper towels” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at China Buffet.
How does China Buffet compare to other restaurants in Jacksonville?
China Buffet most recently scored 47 out of 100, which is lower than the Jacksonville average of 74.
Has China Buffet's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at China Buffet have averaged around 10 violations per visit, down from roughly 16 earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at China Buffet means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is China Buffet inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, China Buffet is inspected around three times per year on average.
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