Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken
Last inspected: Apr 7, 2026
58
Score
Public records show 10 inspections at Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken stretching back to 2023. On Apr 7, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near three violations per visit across recent inspections.
Across the inspection history, “single-service articles not stored inverted or protected” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.
The city-wide average sits at 83, which Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken's 58 doesn't quite reach. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
10
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 7, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 2/1/2026. Establishment open and operating. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Sliced American cheese in walk in cooler dated 3/31/26
02C-01-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Vaping device and jacket on prep table. Operator removed items. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Mixing bowls on clean dish shelf
24-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Buckets of mayonnaise and pickles on floor in walk in cooler.
08B-38-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Takeout containers on shelf over pass through window. Operator inverted. **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
Basic - Unwrapped single-service utensils not presented so that only the handles are touched. Unwrapped spoons in basket at front counter. Operator placed correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
25-02-4
58
Nov 6, 2025
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Top of walk in cooler door.
14-69-4
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Employee removed knives from in between reach in cooler doors. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Employee labeled bulk containers of flour in prep area. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
82
Feb 7, 2025
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 5, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed Macaroni and Cheese (51F - Cold Holding) in alto-sham drawer underneath fry storage hot holding area. Operator stated product had been in drawer for 20 minutes. Operator moved to reach-in cooler. Discussed product being a time/temperature control for safety food and requirements pertaining to maintaining proper temperature. Observed Chicken Wings (50F - Cold Holding); Nuggets - Raw Chicken (Different Cuts) (48F - Cold Holding) in reach-in cooler on cook line to the left of the fryers not plugged in. Operator stated product had been in cooler for less than an hour. Operator plugged cooler in. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed sanitizer bucket and rags stored in handwash sink at front counter. Operator removed to set up sanitizer buckets making handwash sink accessible. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31A-09-4
78
Oct 28, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. cooked chicken wings (48F - Cold Holding) top rail of reach in cooler on cook line, manager covered item
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Hand sink on cook line blocked by garbage can, garbage can moved **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation.
13-04-4
Basic - No Heimlich maneuver/choking sign posted. Provided operator with printed copy of DBPR HR 5030-105 **Corrected On-Site**
51-13-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of cooking equipment and in between coolers and equipment in cooking area
23-03-4
67
May 9, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
May 6, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Cook touched soiled sink with hands then put on new gloves with no Hand was. Coached employee on proper hand washing procedures. **Warning**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Splitter on mop sink faucet. **Warning**
29-42-4
Intermediate - No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
16-37-1
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 with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee cooking. **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Single service containers on cook line expo window. **Warning**
25-05-4
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Single service utensils at front counter facing up. Employee turned all utensils face down. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
25-06-4
Basic - Standing water or very slow draining water in handwash sink, three-compartment sink, or mop sink. Standing water in mop sink since 5-4-24 per operator. **Warning**
29-20-5
50
Sep 13, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 25, 2023
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
74
Apr 5, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : 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** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-05: **Admin Complaint**
53B-01-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-05: **Admin Complaint**
53A-01-7
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed black mold build up inside ice machine **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-05: Observed black mold build up inside ice machine **Time Extended**
22-20-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Observed 3 pairs of tongs stored on oven handles **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-05: Observed 3 pairs of tongs stored on oven handles **Time Extended**
10-20-4
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken on file is from Apr 7, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken?
Across the inspection record, “single-service articles not stored inverted or protected” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken.
How does Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken compare to other restaurants in Zephyrhills?
Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Zephyrhills average of 83.
Has Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Hangry Joe's Hot 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 Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken is inspected around three times per year on average.
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