China Kitchen
Last inspected: Dec 18, 2025
39
Score
Public records show nine inspections at China Kitchen stretching back to 2022. On Dec 18, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A high risk tier suggests the facility had a rough recent inspection, with multiple violations on record.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around 15 violations to closer to 11 violations per visit over the last few inspections.
When inspectors have written things up, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been the most frequent reason, cited six times.
Compared to other Groveland restaurants (averaging 87), there's room to close the gap. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
3
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 18, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. -cooling chicken stored on pans with menu for draining, educated operator, operator changed to Bounty paper towels for draining **Corrected On-Site**
14-86-1
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. -open package of raw scallops stored over cooked egg rolls in walk in freezer
08A-02-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -can opener
22-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. -cooked chicken in walk in cooler **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. -bottle of clear liquid under triple sink
41-17-4
Basic - Garbage enclosure in disrepair
33-04-5
Basic - Lights not functioning over cook line **Repeat Violation**
36-62-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -exterior of plastic containers on dry storage shelf -back screen door is sticky -speed rack by back door
23-03-4
Basic - Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. -egg rolls placed in cardboard box packaged food came in, operator placed in plastic container and covered **Corrected On-Site**
25-32-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. -cooked chicken in walk in cooler, egg rolls in walk in freezeroperator covered **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. -hand sink by triple sink
29-11-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. -cornstarch on dry storage shelf
02D-01-5
39
Apr 15, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 4-1-25
50-17-3
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Degreaser stored next to flour on shelf. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Wipe cloth chlorine sanitizer over 500 ppm. Operator Diluted water. **Corrected On-Site**
41-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked with trash can. Operator removed **Corrected On-Site**
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. General chicken and roasted port in walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee sweaters on dry storage shelf. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bucket of sauce on floor. Operator removed. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Light not functioning. 4 lights out at cook line **Repeat Violation**
36-62-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler gasket at cook line soiled. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach in cooler at cook line soiled.
22-16-4
41
Jan 14, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. -bean sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
01B-01-4
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. -employee helped customers at front counter, returned to food prep on line with no hand wash. - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
12A-16-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -white cutting board on front make table -can opener **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
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. -roast pork, general tso chicken in walk in cooler **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
02C-02-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. -in rice cooker. **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
14-01-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. -throughout the establishment. - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
36-34-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. -general tso chicken and sweet and sour chicken in front reach in cooler - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
10-06-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -gaskets on front reach in cooler **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
23-03-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Several Lights not functioning under hood suppression system. **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
36-62-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. -Monosodium glutamate in kitchen **Repeat Violation** - From follow-up inspection 2025-01-14: **Time Extended**
02D-01-5
45
Nov 14, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. -bean sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce **Repeat Violation**
01B-01-4
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. -employee helped customers at front counter, returned to food prep on line with no hand wash.
12A-16-4
Intermediate - Food manager certification expired. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ -2 expired CFM **Warning**
53A-03-7
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. -white cutting board on front make table -can opener **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. -roast pork, general tso chicken in walk in cooler **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled in dish area. Operator labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. -by dish machine. Two other hand wash sinks in kitchen.
27-16-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. -in rice cooker. **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. -throughout the establishment.
36-34-5
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. -employee cooking food wearing a bracelet.
13-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. -sauce in walk in cooler and boxes of chicken in walk in freezer. Operator relocated. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use utensil not stored with handle above the top of time/temperature control for safety food and rim of the container. -general tso chicken and sweet and sour chicken in front reach in cooler
10-06-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -gaskets on front reach in cooler **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Several Lights not functioning under hood suppression system. **Repeat Violation**
36-62-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. -multiple items in walk in cooler. Operator covered. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Operator hung to dry **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. -Monosodium glutamate in kitchen **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
27
Jan 31, 2024
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 6 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 21 violations
High Priority - Cooked chicken and cooked shrimp stored in containers placed on top of egg crates in walk in cooler.
08B-27-4
High Priority - Dented cans present.Oyster sauce can is heavily dented on the seam. See stop sale.
01B-01-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before starting to initiate a task working with food. Cook. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs stored over noodles in walk in cooler.
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.Pork,50 f held less than four hours stated operator and transferred to walk in cooler for a quick chill.After .5 hour 28 degrees f
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. **Corrected On-Site**
11-07-5
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.Copy provided to operator. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards are stained. Handles in the interior of the rice cookers are soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked by equipment **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Chlorine strips. **Repeat Violation**
16-37-1
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked chicken in walk in cooler.
02C-02-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Noodles in walk in cooler. Oil by three compartment sink. Food sauces in floor area. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl used to dispense dry rice and cooked rice.
14-01-5
Basic - Four Lights out under the hood suppression system.
36-62-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Monsodium glutamate. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Interior of oven has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Salamander and upright oven.
22-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Sides of walk in cooler doors are soiled. Side of walk in freezer is soiled. Gaskets soiled throughout the establishment. Hood filters are soiled under the hood suppression system.
23-03-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Onions in walk in cooler. Noodles in walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
Basic - Uncleanable knife block in use to store knives.
14-55-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food.Unwashed peppers stored over cooked pork in walk in cooler.
08B-17-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name.Monsodium glutamate in kitchen.
02D-01-5
16
Aug 23, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
47
Jun 6, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. By hot water heater. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-06-06: **Time Extended**
41-17-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-06-06: **Time Extended**
21-04-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Sugar scoop. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-06-06: **Time Extended**
14-01-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food stored on floor. -Cooking oil. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-06-06: **Time Extended**
08B-38-4
78
Apr 5, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Employee washed hands with no soap. **Warning**
12A-20-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw chicken over veggies in walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. By hot water heater. **Warning**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. **Warning**
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Lids stored in rear handsink. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. **Warning**
53B-01-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Over prep cooler. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. -Cooking oil. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
21-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. -On top of broiler. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Chicken at room temperature. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
06-01-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. -Bulk container of breading. **Warning**
02D-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Sugar scoop. **Warning**
14-01-5
35
Oct 11, 2022
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
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
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
14
Frequently Asked Questions
When was China Kitchen last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at China Kitchen on file is from Dec 18, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at China Kitchen?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at China Kitchen.
How does China Kitchen compare to other restaurants in Groveland?
China Kitchen most recently scored 39 out of 100, which is lower than the Groveland average of 87.
Has China Kitchen's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at China Kitchen have averaged around 11 violations per visit, down from roughly 15 earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at China Kitchen 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 Kitchen inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, China Kitchen is inspected around three times per year on average.
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