Happy Garden

6177 S Jog Rd #D12, Lake Worth, FL 33467
Chinese
Last inspected: Mar 9, 2026
74
Score
Medium Risk

Public records show nine inspections at Happy Garden stretching back to 2022. On Mar 9, 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.

Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around three violations to closer to seven violations per visit.

When inspectors have written things up, “ready-to-eat” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.

Among Lake Worth restaurants, this is a fairly standard result. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.

9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 9, 2026
Food-Licensing Inspection
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
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. Employee wiped face and after handled clean and sanitizer probe thermometer and containers in reach in cooler, discussed with employee who washed hands. **Corrected On-Site**
12A-25-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in cooler non commercially packaged raw chicken above raw shrimp, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-17-6
74
Dec 8, 2025
Routine - Food
7 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 15 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. In kitchen on shelf above flip top cooler tube of pipe sealant, discussed with operator to remove product. **Warning**
41-10-4
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Employee taking orders at front counter entered kitchen and without washing hands handled container of wontons and place in water to reheat, discussed with operator for employee to wash hands. **Warning**
12A-16-4
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. Operator handled soiled metal pipe used to drain deep fryer and without washing hands operator handled clean and sanitized ladle to prepare soup, discussed with operator to wash hands. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12A-29-4
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Operator used bare hands to handle green onions in flip top cooler, no AOP in place, discussed with operator. **Warning**
09-01-4
High Priority - Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Operator used metal scrub brush to wash pan and afterwards rinsed pan out with water, operator did not sanitize pan before using it to scoop water into Chinese style pan to prepare soup, discussed with operator to properly sanitize equipment before use. **Warning**
22-45-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer house made raw pork wontons stored directly above bags of edamame and spring roll skins, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. In walk in cooler raw ground pork above raw shell eggs, discussed with operator who corrected storage of products. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-20-5
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of employee health policy and health requirements. Reviewed with operator and emailed form. **Warning**
11-03-5
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. Reviewed with operator and emailed copy of big 6 **Warning**
11-07-5
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. Reviewed with operator and emailed copy of clean up poster, discussed with operator to print and display by next inspection. **Warning**
11-27-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Approximately 1 dead roach on floor in front of dry seasonings. Approximately 1 dead roach in bucket containing sealed bag of seasoning, discussed with operator who cleaned and sanitized areas. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
35A-03-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting board on flip top cooler grooved and no longer easily cleanable, discussed with operator to repair or replace. **Warning**
14-09-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Reach in cooler to right of steam table door handles and gaskets soiled with accumulation of grease and food debris, discussed with operator to clean and sanitize. **Warning**
23-24-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Shelves at cook line used to store single service to go containers soiled with accumulation of grease build up. **Warning**
23-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee wallet stored on shelf above flip top cooler with single service take out boxes, discussed with operator to remove item. **Warning**
40-06-5
20
Apr 4, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. In walking cooler cooked pork egg rolls prepared onsite 2 days ago per operator. Discussed date marking with operator who date marked container. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. In walking cooler cooked broccoli (72F - Cooling)at 2:25 since 2:15 to 72F at 2:40. At this current rate of cooling product will not reach 70F within 2 hours discussed cooling with operator who moved broccoli to freezer to rapid chill. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-15-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. Inside kitchen approximately 15 dead roaches on the floor under cook line and behind refrigerator. Discussed with operator who cleaned and sanitized area. Inside kitchen in dry storage area approximately 2 dead roaches on floor behind reach in freezer. Discussed with operator who cleaned and sanitized area. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
35A-03-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. In kitchen under cook line and behind reach in cooler the floor has heavy accumulation of grease and food debris. Discussed with operator to clean and sanitize areas.
36-73-4
74
Feb 4, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At cook line cooked rice (55F - Cold Holding) per operator product not portioned or prepared today. Operator states they leave rice there under no temperature control for rush hour until they cook. Per operator product removed from cooler approximately 1 hour ago. Operator placed rice back into walk in cooler approximately 1 hour ago. Operator placed rice back into walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-04: High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At flip top cooler cooked chicken (50F - Cold Holding) cooked shrimp (52F - Cold Holding) raw beef (51F - Cold Holding) cooked pork (56F - Cold Holding) bean sprouts (51F - Cold Holding) pork egg rolls (46F - Cold Holding) per operator product not portioned or prepared today see stop sale. **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. At cook line reach in cooler shelves heavily soiled discussed with operator to clean and sanitize. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-04: **Time Extended**
22-16-4
82
Nov 12, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
70
Feb 23, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit...egg rolls 44F , sweet and sour chicken 58F at cook line , food not portion or prepped today , food being held less than 4 hours. Employee time marked on food. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked...chicken, pork, egg rolls was cooked more than 24 hours in walk in cooler . Operator date marked. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Stored food not covered...multiple food not covered in walk in cooler . Operator covered. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
74
Oct 12, 2023
Routine - Food
6 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse...Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit....fried beef 54° stored top of another container at flip top cooler at kitchen. Food being held since last night , more than 4 hours. ... Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours....rice 58°, rice 47° in walk in cooler . Stack food top of another with covered .Per operator food was cooked yesterday .
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit....fried beef 54° stored top of another container at flip top cooler at kitchen. Food being held since last night , more than 4 hours. Stop sale issue . Operator discarded food. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged....raw chicken with raw pork, raw beef at chase reach in freezer. Raw beef, raw pork with sea food at tall reach in freezer.
08A-17-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food...raw chicken directly top of the sauce , raw chicken directly top of the egg rolls skin at walk in cooler. Operator properly stored food **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged....raw chicken with noodles at tall reach in freezer . Operator moved. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-02-6
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours....rice 58°, rice 47° in walk in cooler . Stack food top of another with covered .Per operator food was cooked yesterday . Stop sale issue . Operator discarded food. **Corrective Action Taken**
03D-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked.... Per operator cooked egg rolls was cooked 10/09/23 , krab Rangoon was cooked 10/10/23 at walk in cooler . Operator date marked. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Stored food not covered....egg rolls, krab Rangoon at walk in cooler , sauces, garlic in oil in reach in cooler. Advise operator covered .
08B-12-5
35
Jun 14, 2023
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
95
Dec 13, 2022
Routine - Food
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Observed 2 cleavers stored between cooler and prep table. Operator removed, cleaned and sanitized and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
10-17-4
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on cook line cooler door handles. Operator cleaned and sanitized. **Corrected On-Site**
23-24-4
90

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Happy Garden last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Happy Garden on file is from Mar 9, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Happy Garden?

Across the inspection record, “ready-to-eat” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Happy Garden.

How does Happy Garden compare to other restaurants in Lake Worth?

Happy Garden most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is about the same as the Lake Worth average of 77.

Has Happy Garden's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Happy Garden have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Happy Garden 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 Happy Garden inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Happy Garden is inspected around three times per year on average.