Church's Chicken
Last inspected: Feb 4, 2026
74
Score
Across the available record, Church's Chicken has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Feb 4, 2026. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around four violations compared to roughly eight violations earlier on.
When inspectors have written things up, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Restaurants in Tampa average 79, so Church's Chicken trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
8
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 4, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. chicken (45F - Cold Holding) walk in cooler door left open manager sealed door closed and temperature starting dropping. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Food stored on floor inside walk in frezzer.
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup inside walk in frezzer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters overtop fryer has grease buildup.
23-03-4
74
Jul 29, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Mop sink has a splitter without a backflow protection device. **Repeat Violation**
29-42-4
High Priority - Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands. Employees went from frying raw chicken to taking cooked chicken out of fryer without washing her hands. Had s discussion with employee about proper handwashing. Employee washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-12-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee coffee stored in food preparation table in back kitchen area. Management removed and properly stored coffee.
12B-07-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup inside walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Ice scoop handle laying in ice at soda machine in drive through. Employee removed and properly stored ice scoop. **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink stored inside walk in freezer,walk in cooler.
12B-13-4
61
Mar 11, 2025
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee placed on hair restraint. **Corrected On-Site**
13-03-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer floor is covered in ice.
14-69-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available. Manager emailed last inspection report. **Corrected On-Site**
51-18-6
86
Nov 6, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employee used cell phone put on gloves and started working with food.
12A-07-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee using cell phone while working.
40-06-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor in front of freezer.
36-22-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters have buildup of grease.
23-03-4
74
Apr 24, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Splitter missing vacuum breaker.
29-42-4
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employee put on gloves without washing hands.
12A-07-5
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. Observed operator touch phone and made drink without washing hands.
12A-29-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Shrimp 109 F, fries 106 F, operator voluntarily discarded at time of inspection.
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Self service soda machine.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Bucket in handwash sink next to 3 Compartment Sink, operator removed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at handwash sink next to 3 Compartment Sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Throughout kitchen
36-73-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Cups not inverted next to soda machine. Operator inverted at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee bag on pan liner.
40-06-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine.
22-20-5
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee food in walk in cooler.
08B-49-4
32
Sep 27, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand washing sink. Manager placed paper towels at hand washing sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
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. Emailed operator employee health agreement. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-26-1
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Wet dishes stored on shelves.
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Food stored on floor inside walk in freezer. Manager removed items from floor and properly stored it. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup inside walk in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster.
33-11-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet mop sitting inside mop sink preventing proper air drying. Manager properly stored mop. **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
61
Jan 6, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
86
Aug 10, 2022
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Ovens have old food debris inside.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee filled container with water at hand wash sink.
31A-11-4
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Gap under back door in kitchen.
35B-01-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash potato scoops submerged in water temping 70F. Operator discarded of water.
10-07-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Church's Chicken last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Church's Chicken on file is from Feb 4, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Church's Chicken?
Across the inspection record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Church's Chicken.
How does Church's Chicken compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Church's Chicken most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Church's Chicken's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Church's Chicken have averaged around four violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Church's Chicken 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 Church's Chicken inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Church's Chicken is inspected around two times per year on average.
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