El Palacio Buffet
Last inspected: Jan 12, 2026
95
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at El Palacio Buffet, the earliest from 2022. El Palacio Buffet was last inspected on Jan 12, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around five violations lately and about nine violations before that.
“Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
Restaurants in Kissimmee average 78, so El Palacio Buffet is doing better than most peers. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 12, 2026
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Throughout facility. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2026-01-12: **Time Extended**
36-11-4
95
Nov 12, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - bar area added. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. Added a bar and built a wall divided the restaurant into two. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended**
51-14-7
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - No plan review submitted and approved - renovations were made or are in progress. Must submit plans and plan review application to DBPR H and R Plan Review office located at 2601 Blair Stone Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1011. Plans must be submitted AND approved within 60 days. The direct link to the Plan Review page is https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/plan-review/. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended**
51-16-7
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended**
32-12-6
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Kitchen exit door. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended**
35B-01-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tile missing in front of handwashing sink in warewashing area. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended**
36-17-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Throughout facility. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-11-12: **Time Extended**
36-11-4
67
Jul 8, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
45
Jan 31, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Lowe's bucket used to store salsa in walk-in cooler
14-15-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soiled cutting board on make table at cooks line can opener on prep table,operator washed. **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Spoon in handwashing sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cellphone above reach in cooler on cooks line. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Shallow pans in dry storage.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. By triple sink at dishwashing area.
36-17-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup in Ice -cream freezer in storage next to soda boxes.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs on metal part of wok on cooks line. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
55
Aug 7, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Protein (pig ears cooling in deep pan. Advised shallow pan for cooling.
03D-15-4
Basic - Box containing rolls of plastic has old food debris/soil residue inside.
25-25-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Dirty balled up apron on prep table.
40-06-5
Basic - In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. **Corrected On-Site**
21-04-4
Basic - Open ice cream containers provided for self-service not properly protected. Customer reaching into container to scoop. Advised to cut down containers or pre scoop ice cream.
08B-04-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Bowls at soup and ice cream areas not stored protected. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Trash on the ground outside back door of kitchen
33-19-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
21-12-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of ice cream cooler at buffet line heavily soiled.
22-16-4
58
Mar 7, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Raw Animal Food Properly Separated from Each Other and RTE Food
FL-47
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
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
61
Sep 13, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
86
Mar 22, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Raw fish over cases of vegetables in walk-in cooler **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Intermediate - Test kit for measuring the concentration of the sanitizing solution not used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or employee unaware of proper use Needs chlorine test strips extra of the quaternary ones
16-43-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. - walk-in freezer
36-73-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Knifes in water **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Waiters station.
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - walk-in cooler shelves - exterior of fryers - hood filters
23-03-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cooked food In walk-in cooler
08B-12-5
58
Nov 17, 2022
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Noodles cooked yesterday 47° Sancocho 52° cooked yesterday
03D-02-5
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. Oppm - 50 ppm **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. - shell eggs over sauces and garlic **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Liver 48° labeled 11/9 stop sale Salmon labeled 11/9 stop sale
02C-01-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Noodles cooked yesterday 47° Sancocho 52° cooked yesterday Liver 48° labeled 11/9 Salmon labeled 11/9
01B-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. - mixer head
22-02-4
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. - restrooms
27-16-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. **Repeat Violation**
24-08-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. - meat walk in cooler - walk-in freezer **Repeat Violation**
36-73-4
Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. - around hood filters
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning.
16-46-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid.
33-16-4
27
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Palacio Buffet last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Palacio Buffet on file is from Jan 12, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Palacio Buffet?
Across the inspection record, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at El Palacio Buffet.
How does El Palacio Buffet compare to other restaurants in Kissimmee?
El Palacio Buffet most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Kissimmee average of 78.
Has El Palacio Buffet's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at El Palacio Buffet have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at El Palacio Buffet means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is El Palacio Buffet inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Palacio Buffet is inspected around three times per year on average.
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