Chen's Garden
Last inspected: Oct 31, 2025
74
Score
The health department has logged 10 inspections at Chen's Garden, the earliest from 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Oct 31, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near two violations per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.
By comparison, the average Fort Lauderdale facility scores 80, putting Chen's Garden on the weaker side. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 31, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
74
Aug 14, 2025
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
90
May 13, 2025
Complaint Full
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On the cook line cutting board. The cloth was returned to the bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Cook line hood filters covered with grease.
23-03-4
90
Mar 6, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations.
View 3 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
64
Nov 5, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In the reach in freezer, a thank you bag was used to store cut pork.
14-31-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In the walk in cooler, raw beef and raw chicken were stored above various ready to eat sauces. The meats were moved down to another shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Basic - Food stored on floor. In the dry storage room, buckets of duck sauce were stored on the floor. The buckets were moved to shelving. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
70
Mar 20, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 24, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In the walk in cooler, raw chicken was stored over raw shrimp. The items were reorganized to be stored correctly.emailed operator safe food storage poster in Chinese **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. At the triple sink, a spray bottle of cleaner was not labeled. The operator labeled the bottle. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
78
May 11, 2023
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw chicken over ready to eat wontons in chest freezer in kitchen . Operator moved and stored wontons correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-17-6
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets torn or in disrepair in chest freezer in kitchen opposite 3 compartment sink. Door not properly attached when chest freezer is opened on the same unit. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Food storage fried rice container/container lid cracked or broken in cook line. Operator changed container. **Corrected On-Site**
14-38-4
Basic - Interior door of chest freezer in disrepair/has exposed insulation opposite 3 compartment sink in kitchen.
14-36-5
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cheese wonton not covered in chest freezer opposite 3 compartment sink in kitchen. Operator covered **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Corn starch in bucket in dry storage room not labeled. Operator labelled **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
67
Feb 22, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken stored over sauces inside walk in cooler. Operator moved raw chicken to another shelf and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Low boy cooler in cook line ; cooked brown rice 58F cold holding. Per operator, foods pulled from walk in cooler less than 2 hours ago and left on prep station , food were then transferred to reach in cooler in cook line .Operator moved to walk in cooler to quick chill. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed hands at compartment sink. Told operator to wash hands in hand wash sink only. Operator complied **Corrected On-Site**
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink blocked by buckets in kitchen. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-05-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Operator labelled bleach **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets torn or in disrepair in chest freezer in kitchen opposite 3 compartment sink. Door not properly attached when chest freezer is opened on the same unit.
14-11-5
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Containers of oil on floor in cook line. Operator elevated **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Krab Rangoon not covered inside chest freezer in kitchen. Raw chicken not covered inside walk in cooler. Operator covered **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Operator labelled sugar **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
41
Jul 20, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with krab meat in chest freezer in cook line. Operator placed krab meat in an approved food grade bag during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
14-31-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw shrimp inside walk in cooler. Operator moved raw shrimp and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Outside establishment next to restroom.
29-34-4
Intermediate - Operator is not properly tracking/marking the number of days ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite was held at refrigeration temperatures prior to freezing in order to properly date mark the food when it is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures again. Cooked pork removed from chest freezer 2 days ago and placed inside wic without any tracking/marking. Operator date marked during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-04-5
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-13-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone on top packaged dressing on prep table in kitchen. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Case of oil and buckets of sauces not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor in kitchen. Operator elevated during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
Basic - In-use spoons stored in cracks between pieces of equipment in kitchen. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Utensils at 80F standing water in prep station in cook line . Operator discarded water **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Krab Rangoon not covered inside chest freezer in kitchen. Operator covered **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
41
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chen's Garden last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Chen's Garden on file is from Oct 31, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Chen's Garden?
Across the inspection record, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Chen's Garden.
How does Chen's Garden compare to other restaurants in Fort Lauderdale?
Chen's Garden most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Fort Lauderdale average of 80.
Has Chen's Garden's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Chen's Garden have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Chen's Garden means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Chen's Garden inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Chen's Garden is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants