Falafel King

3252 Sw 35 Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Greek / Mediterranean
Last inspected: Nov 10, 2025
43
Score
High Risk

Going back to 2022, Falafel King has 13 inspections in the public record. The latest inspection on file is from Nov 10, 2025. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.

Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around five violations each.

Looking across the full record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.

Restaurants in Gainesville average 75, so Falafel King trails the local norm. There are enough flags in the record to merit a second thought.

13
Inspections
3
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 10, 2025
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
43
Jul 28, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jul 25, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 8 violations
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
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
39
Jan 7, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed: air freshener stored over the prep table in the kitchen. The spray cans were moved to cleaning. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: a gallon of milk in the front line reach-in cooler 49°. This was moved to the reach-in cooler with no lid. This item was opened last night and was used repeatedly during the day. ALSO, cooked rice was in a round pan on the prep table. This was taken out in response to a customer order. This was placed in the reach-in cooler with no cover. This dropped from 54 to 51 in 11 minutes. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed: front line hand wash sink lacks paper towels. Napkins were added. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed: the can opener with dried food debris on the blade. This was moved to the 3 compartment sink. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed under water that was barely running/dripping. Observed: frozen chicken stored in the 3 compartment sink in standing water. This was moved into a bus pan with cold water running into it. **Corrected On-Site**
06-08-5
58
Sep 11, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 3, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed: raw chicken frozen in the market reach-in freezer, stored over unsealed lamb/shank.
08A-20-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed: 1 flying insect in the market area.
35A-02-6
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. Observed: person in charge is not able to recite big 6 food-bourne illnesses.
11-07-5
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Observed: a gallon of milk in the front line reach-in cooler, opened yesterday per the staff, no date.
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink removed from food preparation/dishwashing area. Must be reinstalled in the same location where removed. Observed: hand wash sink that was next to the 3 compartment sink was removed when it was falling off the wall. **Warning**
31A-04-4
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. Observed: no probe thermometer was made available at the start of the inspection. When the owner arrived, a probe thermometer was found in the black bag at the first table. **Corrected On-Site**
05-08-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Observed: rice cold held in the reach-in cooler, made yesterday per the staff, no date mark.
02C-02-5
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed: bags of rice for sale in the market are not 6" off the floor, it is on a flat piece of sealed wood.
08B-47-4
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Observed: the choking poster could not be found.
51-13-4
41
Feb 6, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 5, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: rice in the kitchen, 79F. This was placed uncovered in the reach-in cooler. ALSO, lamb in the reach-in freezer in the corner 45F. The door was closed and the lamb dropped to 43F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: gyro at the front counter, 97-109F. ALSO, gyro 83F. The gyro cooker was turned back on. The gyro in the kitchen was placed in the walk-in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed: logoed plastic bags used so store frozen food, in the reach-in freezer.
14-31-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed: the ceiling of the lower microwave with an accumulation of dried food debris. Also the can opener has dried food debris on the blade. ALSO, the reach-in freezer has liquid spills at rye lower shelf. ALSO, the cutting boards in the 3 compartment sink have stains on them.
22-02-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed: a container not labeled. A salt label was to be added. **Corrective Action Taken**
02D-01-5
55
Oct 19, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 15, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
43
Apr 5, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 7 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed container of Chicken prepared 48 hours ago and not date marked
02C-01-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed equipment not properly air-dried, and stored wet on clean ware rack resulting in wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed food-contact surface of commercial can opener soiled with food debris, mold-like substance.
23-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee phone, purse and stapler stored above prep table.
40-06-5
Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Observed food contact surface of utensil not inverted and surface up.
24-18-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Observed old labels not removed from food containers after cleaning on the clean ware rack.
16-46-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed case of soft drinks and bag of rice stored on floor in the dry goods storage area
08B-38-4
Basic - Establishment using sponges on cleaned and sanitized, or in-use food-contact surface. Observed establishment using sponge on in-use food-contact surface at three-compartment sink.
21-23-4
61
Jan 31, 2023
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 4 violations
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. Observed person in charge at 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. Inspector provided vomitting and diarrhea procedure.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. Observed person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. **Warning**
53A-02-7
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. Observed person in charge cannot provide verifiable proof 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.
11-26-1
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cell phones stored on prep table in kitchen. Manager removed cell phones from prep table. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
70
Aug 10, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed license displayed dated 6/1/2022...expired. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-2
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Observed some employee food handler certificates expired in February 2022
53B-14-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Observed interior of microwave soiled with food debris.
22-08-4
74

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Falafel King last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Falafel King on file is from Nov 10, 2025. The public record contains 13 inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Falafel King?

Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food cold held” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Falafel King.

How does Falafel King compare to other restaurants in Gainesville?

Falafel King most recently scored 43 out of 100, which is lower than the Gainesville average of 75.

Has Falafel King's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Falafel King have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at Falafel King 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 Falafel King inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Falafel King is inspected around four times per year on average.