Golden Corral
Last inspected: Dec 2, 2025
52
Score
Golden Corral appears in inspection records 10 times, starting in 2022. On Dec 2, 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.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near seven violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded five times.
Compared to other Ocala restaurants (averaging 78), there's room to close the gap. This restaurant has more on its record than most do.
10
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 2, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Item stored in front counter reach-in cooler: whipped topping (49F - Cold Holding). Manager stated whipped topping placed in cooler one hour prior to temperature being taken. Manager moved whipped topping to walk-in cooler to reduce temperature to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking. Prepped pizzas stored in prep area next to kitchen ice machine. Manager stated pizzas prepared thirty minutes earlier. Manager placed proper time marking on pizzas. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Cups stored on top of front counter hand washing sink. Manager moved cups during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on cart handle in hamburger cooking station. Employee placed tongs on top of pan. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood vents above fryers greasy. Gasket for reach-in cooler in dessert area soiled with old food debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Aluminum to go pans stored on shelf in prep area next to kitchen ice machine. Manager turned containers over. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing in front of dish machine.
36-17-5
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Plastic container stored in walk-in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
14-38-4
52
Jul 8, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the prep area, chicken 120-130F, manager moved to oven to reheated, also at the front line (buffet), mashed potatoes 127F, moved to steamer. **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Handwash sink located in the meat room, also no sign.
31B-02-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine at the server station
22-20-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cleaned stacked cups, plates and containers
24-08-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. At the ware washing area. **Repeat Violation**
36-22-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. In use lids cracked (raw chicken)
14-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. In walk-in freezer around fans. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. At the dessert station, spatula, knifes and ice cream scoop in 115F.
10-07-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. At the server station, manager moved off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4
55
Mar 13, 2025
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Can of black eye peas dented at top seam.
01B-01-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. See stop sale. Pizza Kept on time but no time mark. Manager advised that pizza had been prepared 30 minutes earlier
03F-02-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor around steamer in kitchen
36-22-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup around door in walk-in-freezer
14-69-4
Basic - Toilet/urinal not flushing/functioning properly. Urinal in men's rooms out of order. No water running in urinal.
32-23-5
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed produce ( Strawberries and Tomaato ) stored over ready-to-eat food (applesauce ) in walk in cooler . Manager moved applesauce **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-17-4
61
Feb 10, 2025
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Clean stacked Equipment ( bins )not properly air-dried, and stored wet on clean ware rack resulting in wet nesting. Manager placed at dishmachine **Corrected On-Site**
24-08-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Old labels not removed from food containers before cleaning, stored on the clean ware rack. and clean pans had old wrap not removed before cleaning. Manager placed all items in dishwash area **Corrective Action Taken**
16-46-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed produce ( Tomato) stored over ready-to-eat food ( hard cooked eggs ) in walk in cooler . Manager moved tomatoes **Corrected On-Site**
08B-17-4
86
Aug 6, 2024
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - Standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly. Water on floor between dishmachine and walk-in-cooler. Manager had water removed **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
29-19-4
95
Jun 17, 2024
Complaint Full
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 11 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Five live flies in kitchen area.
35A-02-6
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. On roll cart in prep area, five packages of krab meat 69-74F. Employee stated items were removed from refrigerator 10 minutes prior. Stop sale issued.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On roll cart in prep area, five packages of krab meat 69-74F. Employee stated items were removed from refrigerator 10 minutes prior. Stop sale issued. On front cook line: raw cut cabbage 50F. Employee stated cabbage was placed out 3.5 hours prior. Added to Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) and time stamp added. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Employee touched face/hair and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employees touched hat on head with gloved hands then continued to pick up clean pan without washing hands and changing gloves. Female employee touched apron then continued to put on new gloves without washing hands. Manager spoke to both employees. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
12A-25-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of reach in freezers, reach in coolers, and reach in hot holding cabinets soiled with food debris. Interior of reach in dessert coolers at dessert bar soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Building components, attachments or fixtures in poor repair. Floor tiles broken throughout kitchen.
36-51-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two tanks in kitchen area. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. One dead roach inside reach in freezer. Discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Glasses in back server station.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Two ovens on front cook line near buffet not working. Cutting board in pizza station has deep grooves.
14-11-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Case of apples on floor in dry storage area. Picked up. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of all hot holding cabinets in kitchen soiled with grease. Exterior of reach in coolers in kitchen soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Old food and/or old labels stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Old food on dishes near meat room. Old label on clean pan at dish machine. Steak label on pan of vegetables on cook line. Employee removed label from vegetables **Corrective Action Taken**
16-48-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Two stained tiles on ceiling near buffet. Floor under dry storage shelves have food debris. Also, Standing water on floor throughout kitchen. **Repeat Violation**
36-50-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Cases of unwashed squash on shelf over cut lettuce, carrots, and boiled eggs in walk in cooler.
08B-17-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Knives stored in water at 130F in dessert bar. Removed from water. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
29
Apr 11, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 8 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Female employee at the prep area, touched her face and immediately after handled clean containers to placed carrots. Inspector addressed situation, employee removed her gloves and washed her hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-10-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Co2 tanks near office, manager secured. **Corrected On-Site**
51-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks on prep tables, employee removed all. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee jacket on top of soda bags, manager moved. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Cleaned stacked containers and cups.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Floors at the cook line and walk-in cooler.
36-22-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Reach in freezer at the chicken station.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in cooler shelves and reach-in cooler shelves soiled.
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in cooler interior soiled.
22-16-4
58
Nov 29, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Observed hose Bibb with hose attached next to dishmachine used rinse off dishes with no vacuum breaker. Observed spray hose stored below top of sink rim.
29-34-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed fried Chicken on buffet line at 129F. Manager advised that the Chicken had been there for less than 45 minutes, however the Manager discarded the Chicken. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03B-01-6
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed cutting board of flip-top make table cooler with groves and no longer cleanable.
14-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee jacket and hat stored on soda syrup boxes in kitchen, Manager removed jacket and hat. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice build up behind cooling unit on the floor and on shelves.
14-69-4
Basic - Silverware/utensils stored upright with the food-contact surface up. Observed rack of spoons and forks with food contact surface up. Manager removed and placed in dishwash area **Corrective Action Taken**
24-18-4
61
Mar 23, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Stop sale issued on six bags of whipped cream in reach in cooler at dessert area.
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in cooler in dessert buffet, whipped cream 48-50F. Stop sale issued due to not being able to determine when temperatures were below 41F. Manager discarded. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control. All Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) labels on main cookline have expired times. Manager replaced all time stamps with proper times. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Rice 129-132F in hot holding cabinet, employee reheated then 174-186F. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Two tanks in dessert area. One tank near office. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic pans on clean dish shelf. Manager began removing dishes to be rewhashed. **Corrective Action Taken**
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment or utensils not designed or constructed in a durable manner. Reach in cooler in dessert area has an ambient temperature of 48F. Reach in freezer in fryer area is missing a fan guard.
14-10-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No sign at sink in Togo area.
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of reach in units near fryers soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Several wet towels in prep area. Also, sanitizer bucket in salad buffet on floor. Manager placed towels in bucket and picked up sanitizer bucket. **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
41
Oct 17, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
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
Equipment Adequate to Maintain Product Temperature
FL-29
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Washing Fruits and Vegetables
FL-42
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Golden Corral last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Golden Corral on file is from Dec 2, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Golden Corral?
Across the inspection record, “equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Golden Corral.
How does Golden Corral compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Golden Corral most recently scored 52 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Golden Corral's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Golden Corral have averaged around seven violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Golden Corral 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 Golden Corral inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Golden Corral is inspected around three times per year on average.
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