China Garden
Last inspected: Jan 28, 2026
74
Score
The health department has logged 10 inspections at China Garden, the earliest from 2022. The most recent visit was on Jan 28, 2026. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near seven violations per visit.
“Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” comes up most often, recorded six times in the inspection record.
China Garden's latest score of 74 falls below the Cocoa average of 82. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 28, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 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. Test dish washer machine reading 0ppm. Prime the dish washer machine and reading 50ppm **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine.
16-23-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Use food container that stores sugar has a crack in the food container
14-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Under the counter 2 door reach in cooler and upright reach in cooler interior is soiled
23-03-4
74
Aug 11, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed in walk in cooler raw chicken over RTE commercial cooked mussels **Repeat Violation**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener blade is soiled with old food debris. Manager took can opener blade to 3 compartment sink **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine.
16-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine. **Repeat Violation**
16-21-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. 2 door reach in cooler gaskets are starting to tear
14-11-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No hand washing sign at hand wash sink at prep area **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. 2 door reach in cooler Interior shelving is soiled
22-16-4
Basic - Walk in cooler shelving is soiled **Repeat Violation**
14-17-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Food container not labeled salt and sugar
02D-01-5
55
Feb 24, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Floors, Walls, and Ceilings Clean and in Good Repair
FL-52
61
Oct 18, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Observed in walk in cooler raw chicken over raw shrimp and unwashed produce. Operator is re-educated and knows now that raw chicken has to be on the bottom of raw shrimp and unwashed produce, because of it higher min cooking temperature. Operator ha# place raw chicken under raw shrimp and unwashed produce **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. At hand wash sink next to dry good shelving
31B-04-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board.
21-04-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed cooking oil stored directly on the floor. Operator remove cooking oil off the floor and place 6 inches or above **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed in containers containing flower have 16oz soup cup with no handle stored in container use for scooping. Operator discarded the cup **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. And exterior is soiled
16-03-4
67
Apr 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
45
Dec 13, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
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. Layla on site over 60 days with no food safety training, - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
53B-02-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. 1#bowl used as scoop without handle in bulk cornstarch - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
14-01-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
36-32-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
36-34-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
21-04-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom shelves and table legs of prep tables soiled, cooking equipment on cooks line exterior soiled. **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach in freezer unit with old food debris interior. 2 door reach in cooler unit on cooks line interior soiled with old food. Counter reach in cooler uni5 on cooks line interior soiled. **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2023-12-13: **Time Extended**
22-16-4
67
Dec 6, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed server/ wait staff come from dining room after handling soiled items, and go to kitchen and start to cut watermelon without first hand washing and applying gloves, she then went to just apply gloves without first hand washing, and then went to hand wash in the prep sink, all were corrected and re-educated employee
09-01-4
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. Ran unit 3 times and primed unit, all at 0 ppm chlorine for the Dish Washing Machine, operator changed 5 gallon bucket with new product **Warning**
22-41-4
High Priority - Food placed in soiled container/equipment. Observed Fresh broccoli on ice pulled from cases to remove ice before being placed in walk in cooler, broccoli was placed in drain sink of soiled dishes side of dishwashing area. Spoke with operator to change this procedure for removing the ice from the cases.
08B-27-4
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. Form was found by inspector and operator posted while inspection as taking place **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
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. Layla on site over 60 days with no food safety training,
53B-02-5
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. New employee on site Layla over 60 days no employee agreement in place. Blank form in Spanish was found by inspector and Layla completed form before inspection was completed **Corrected On-Site**
11-26-1
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Pink mold like substance on deflector of the ice bin/ ice machine **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. And exterior soiled. **Repeat Violation**
16-03-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. 1#bowl used as scoop without handle in bulk cornstarch
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair.
36-32-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.
36-34-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses.
10-20-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board.
21-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom shelves and table legs of prep tables soiled, cooking equipment on cooks line exterior soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach in freezer unit with old food debris interior. 2 door reach in cooler unit on cooks line interior soiled with old food. Counter reach in cooler uni5 on cooks line interior soiled. **Repeat Violation**
22-16-4
30
Apr 5, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 15 minor violations.
View 19 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Reminder that location license expired on 4-01-23,please take appropriate steps to renewal license to avoid any late fees.
50-17-3
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One (1) live fly back area of kitchen due to door opened during delivery during the inspection
35A-02-6
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. No clean up procedure or kit available from the operator, needed paperwork was given to operator for complainace at the next unannounced routine inspection **Corrective Action Taken**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. One (1) live fly in back of location, gap in door, not at 1/16 psi screen and door left opened during delivery.
35B-05-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. **Repeat Violation**
22-16-4
Basic - Screening is not 16-mesh to the inch.
35B-13-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Prepped onions stoppered on cardboard box from fresh mushrooms,
08B-17-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Squeeze bottle clear liquid, water not labeled on cooks line.
02D-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of lid soiled
22-20-5
Basic - Accumulation of debris inside warewashing machine. **Repeat Violation**
16-03-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Dish wash station, employee beverage stored with clean silverware.
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone store near cleaned silverware.
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cups stacked wet .
24-08-4
Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. **Repeat Violation**
36-01-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Prep area of the kitchen, floor tiles cracked or broken.
36-17-5
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No handwash sign posted in mens or ladies bathrooms, same bathroom used by all employees.
31B-04-4
29
Nov 7, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over raw shrimp in walk in cooler, corrected
08A-20-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut cabbage on counter at ambient air cold holding-since 12 noon 74-79°. Placed in reach in freezer to rapid chill, after 15 mins at 52° **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge failed to notify the division of employee diagnosed with Norovirus, Hepatitis A, Shigella spp., Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Typhoid fever (caused by Salmonella Typhi) or Salmonella (nontyphoidal). Sign missing, replaced by inspector at the time of the inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
11-01-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener soiled
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand wash sink in kitchen holding cooking equipment **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Cabbage missing from time plan
03F-10-5
Basic - Floor not cleaned when the least amount of food is exposed. Ceiling tiles in prep area soiled, floor under and behind equipment-soiled.
36-01-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.ric and reach in cooler make table units interior soiled.
22-16-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. gasket on reach in cooler units soiled Metal wire shelving in walk in cooler soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Accumulation of debris on exterior of warewashing machine.
16-21-4
41
Aug 11, 2022
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Back door in prep area, gap at bottom of door. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-11: **Time Extended**
35B-01-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. prep area, few floor tiles missing, exposed cement. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-11: **Time Extended**
36-17-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom shelves of prep tables soiled Door gaskets Ob cooks line make table soiled. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-11: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues.2 door reach in cooler unit on cooks Line, interior soiled old food. Metal wire Shelves in walk in cooler soiled with old food. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-08-11: **Time Extended**
22-16-4
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was China Garden last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at China Garden on file is from Jan 28, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at China Garden?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at China Garden.
How does China Garden compare to other restaurants in Cocoa?
China Garden most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Cocoa average of 82.
Has China Garden's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at China Garden have averaged around seven violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at China 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 China Garden inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, China Garden is inspected around three times per year on average.
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