China Express Take-Out
Last inspected: Mar 12, 2026
58
Score
Going back to 2022, China Express Take-Out has eight inspections in the public record. The most recent report on file is from Mar 12, 2026. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around 14 violations to closer to six violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
The city-wide average sits at 77, which China Express Take-Out's 58 doesn't quite reach. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
8
Inspections
2
Critical latest
2
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 12, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In vertical freezer in storage area- plastic containers of raw chicken on stick over vegetables and rice.
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler - raw chicken over sauces **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board at lift top and small white board stained and grooved . **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. paper copies from safe Staff book **Repeat Violation**
53B-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. In walk in cooler -buckets of sauce in floor
08B-38-4
58
Sep 4, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Food placed in soiled container/equipment. Washed produce stored in soiled blue containers
08B-27-4
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. In chest freezer- dumplings in grocery bagels
14-31-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In refrigerator by front counter- raw beef and chicken over portioned sauces, operator removed sauces and put chicken on bottom, beef above it. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Cutting board at lift top stained
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Plastic jugs in was by 3 compartment sink, operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. Copies of safe Staff certificates, discussed with operator.
53B-09-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Boxes of shrimp in bucket on floor, some portions 61F, operator removed all from box, put in buss tub and turned water on, shrimp will be prepped to cook immediately after thawing. **Corrective Action Taken**
06-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine bin. Small ice machine by 3 compartment sink **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
43
Mar 10, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
33
Nov 22, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
27
May 2, 2024
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. eggs (76F - Cold Holding) sitting out on cook line **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. eggs (76F - Cold Holding) **Repeat Violation**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. -Raw beef, raw chicken above cooked noodles in walk in cooler -raw chicken above portion sauces in white refrigerator Discussed proper food storage with manager, provided establishment with DBPR Form HR 5030-098 **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Soda crates used for cooked egg rolls, discussed proper food storage containers with manager **Repeat Violation**
14-15-4
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. To go bags used for cooked pork, discussed proper bags for food with manager
14-31-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink blocked by mop bucket, lids stored hand sink, items removed **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked meats, cut vegetables, cooked noodles not date marked in walk in cooler, discussed date marking with manager **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Peanut butter containers used to store food, discussed the use of single service containers
25-32-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Wings, raw chicken, raw beef in freezer not covered, discussed covering food with manager **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Can used to scoop food **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. All cutting boards **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Discussed proper hair restraints with manager **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
30
Dec 5, 2023
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 6 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 21 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Establishment using soda bottle holders for storing food, discussed proper food containers for storing food with operator
14-15-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken wings above cut carrots in walk in cooler Raw chicken wings above sauces in reach in cooler at front counter Discussed proper food storage with operator
08A-05-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. raw chicken (64F - Cold Holding)
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. raw chicken (64F - Cold Holding) in concrete mixer by back door
03A-02-5
High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handling cash and credit cards from customers then preparing food without washing hands, discussed proper hand washing with operator
12A-29-4
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Paper menus used for lining containers that food is stored in
14-86-1
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Provided operator with printed copy of DBPR HR 5030-104 **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink by 3 compartment sink blocked by garbage can, garbage can removed **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Soap stored in hand sink by prep sink, discussed not storing anything in hand sink with operator
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Multiuse food-contact surface not smooth, free of breaks/cracks/chips/pits/crevices. Concrete mixer used for raw chicken has cracks, crevices and chips in it
14-16-4
Intermediate - Non-pitting surface rust on food-contact equipment. Concrete mixer with raw chicken in it has surface rust inside it, discussed proper food grade equipment to be used with operator
22-31-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked noodles, cut vegetables, cooked meats in walk in cooler not date marked, discussed with operator proper date marking
02C-02-5
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available.
51-18-6
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Microwave soiled
22-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Sauces stored on floor in walk in cooler and on cook line, discussed not storing food on floor with operator
08B-38-4
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. **Repeat Violation**
13-03-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. To go bowls used to scoop food out of containers, discussed only using scoops with handles with operator
14-01-5
Basic - Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface.
14-17-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Frozen food in reach in freezer not covered
08B-12-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Concrete mixer exterior soiled
23-03-4
14
Jun 21, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
52
Nov 17, 2022
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours. cooked chicken (77F - cooling); cooked pork in deep plastic container(77F on top-90F in lower part of container - Cooling), these item were cooked approximately 12:00pm temp taken during inspection 2:20pm. Operator moved to shallow pan and placed in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
03D-01-5
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. 7 bags of pork stored directly in grocery bags. Discussed with operator the need to use bags approved for food contact **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
14-31-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked pork, cooked chicken, cooked noodles, egg rolls **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
02C-02-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food stored on floor. Fryer oil stored on the floor **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
08B-38-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Operator reusing metal cans. Discussed with operator the need not reuse containers used for single service **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
25-32-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Faucet on 3 compartment sink leaking **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
29-11-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Acoustic tile used on the ceiling **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-11-17: **Time Extended**
36-37-5
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was China Express Take-Out last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at China Express Take-Out on file is from Mar 12, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at China Express Take-Out?
Across the inspection record, “raw animal food stored over/not properly separated” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at China Express Take-Out.
How does China Express Take-Out compare to other restaurants in Tarpon Springs?
China Express Take-Out most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Tarpon Springs average of 77.
Has China Express Take-Out's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at China Express Take-Out have averaged around six violations per visit, down from roughly 14 earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at China Express Take-Out 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 China Express Take-Out inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, China Express Take-Out is inspected around two times per year on average.
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