Hardee's
Last inspected: Jan 5, 2026
37
Score
Public records show 10 inspections at Hardee's stretching back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 5, 2026. Diners may want to take note: high risk reflects issues that a health inspector considered important.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around eight violations per visit lately, up from roughly four violations before.
When inspectors have written things up, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Compared to other Ocala restaurants (averaging 78), there's room to close the gap. The pattern in the record is worth a careful look.
10
Inspections
2
Critical latest
4
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 5, 2026
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Sanitizer bucket on shelf over biscuit mix. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other during preparation based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Employee opened a bag of raw chicken on top of chest freezer containing pans of raw beef.
08A-24-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Fryer basket handle blocking hand sink in chicken prep area. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda nozzles soiled with slimy substance in dining area and drive thru area.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at hand wash sink. Hand wash sink near chicken make table. Manager added towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. 14 employees working over 60 days with no training. Two certificates provided are not on original certificates. Certificates are on cardstock. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
53B-02-5
Basic - Cardboard used to line nonfood-contact shelves. On shelf at cookline. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-45-4
Basic - Food stored in a location that is exposed to splash/dust. Chicken breading located under paper towel dispenser near walk in cooler. Manager placed towels on top of ice machine to avoid employees hands dripping into batter after washing. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-36-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bag of soda syrup on floor under soda rack in back room. Manager picked up. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Missing tiles on wall near back door.
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior walk in freezer door soiled with food debris. Exterior of reach in cooler door soiled with food debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Wall near biscuit prep area soiled with dust. Ceiling in breakfast area soiled with grease and dust. **Repeat Violation**
36-50-4
37
Jul 8, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Establishment has three certificates. Manager stated there are ten employees employed more than 60 days.
53B-13-5
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Reach-in cooler across from walk-in freezer.
29-49-6
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee coat on top of to go cups in drive thru. Employee moved coat to office area. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall outside of walk-in cooler.
36-27-5
Basic - Stored food not covered. Case of hamburgers in walk-in freezer.
08B-12-5
74
Jan 7, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee touched hat then continued to prepare food without washing hands.
12A-28-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand sink near walk in cooler used to dump ice. Employee removed ice from the sink. **Corrective Action Taken**
31A-11-4
Basic - Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Three refrigeration units in kitchen area not in working order.
33-31-5
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer bucket on shelf over bags of flour. Moved during this inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of computer screen soiled with flour in kitchen area. Around door of non used reach in cooler under hot case soiled with grease around door.
23-03-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor under equipment, near back door, near protein breading station, and under fryers soiled with food debris and grease.
36-73-4
64
Sep 11, 2024
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Jul 23, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
47
Jun 12, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Observed "Y" connector at mop sink with missing vacuum breaker on the non-chemical side of the "Y" connector. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
29-42-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured in back area. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Observed missing ceiling tile in storage closet next to front counter.
36-36-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed no covered waste receptacle provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-5
74
Nov 30, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Observed "Y" connector at mop sink with missing vacuum breaker on the non-chemical side of the "Y" connector.
29-42-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed gravy at prep area at 128F. Manager advised that gravy had been prepared less than 30 minutes earlier.
03B-01-6
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. Observed employee handle cinnamon biscuits with bare hand and hand to front counter. Discussed with manager incident.
09-01-4
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee leave food prep area and touch walk-in-cooler handle and retrieved food container and placed at prep table, then went to dishwash area and retrieved clean covers for prep area. Employee then began preparing a biscuit order without washing hands and changing gloves. Discussed incident with Manager and they spoke with employee **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed mold like substance on ice chute at self serve ice dispenser in dining area. Manager discussed with employee on how to properly clean ice chute. **Corrective Action Taken**
22-02-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured in back kitchen area. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Observed floor soiled with dirt, paper, bottle caps and syrup in dry goods storage area
36-73-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed ice build up on cooling unit and on floor in walk-in-freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Light not functioning. Observed light burned out over grill area in kitchen
36-62-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed exterior of microwave soiled with oil and food particles.
23-03-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Observed open dumpster lid behind establishment **Repeat Violation**
33-16-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Observed wet mop stored on floor.
42-01-4
35
Jul 12, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed one fly in kitchen
35A-02-6
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Observed faucet at mop sink leaking.
29-11-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Observed dumpster lid open
33-16-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed standing water by back door and on other side of wall by mop sink
36-22-4
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. Observed employee drinks on prep table. person in charge discarded drinks **Corrected On-Site**
12B-02-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. Observed establishment with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license dated 6/1/2023
50-09-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured in kitchen.
51-11-4
64
Jan 30, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed degreaser stored over to go containers in front of the office. This was moved to cleaning. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Observed lack of back flow device on the non chemical side of the splitter in the mop sink. The vacuum breaker was already added to the splitter, on the chemical side. This was then corrected on site. **Corrected On-Site**
29-42-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed the reach-in cooler at the end of the cook line with chicken in it, has an accumulation of food debris in the bottom. **Repeat Violation* ALSO, the drive thru multi port nozzle, and all dining room multi port nozzles are soiled. The staff are cleaning these now. 2 are finished. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
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 the form is in the office, none filled out yet.
11-26-1
Basic - Sanitizing solution for wiping cloths not free of food debris and visible soil. Observed the 3 compartment sink sanitizer water was soiled. This was dumped during the inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
21-11-4
58
Sep 12, 2022
Routine - Food
5 critical violations. 5 major violations. 14 minor violations.
View 24 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet. Splitter added to faucet, no attachment on hose connection side.
29-42-4
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. No time mark on tomatoes and cut lettuce on cookline. Manager stated items were placed out at 11 am. Manager added time **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Container of "ortho home on shelf over toilet paper in dry storage. Container of "raid" on shelf over toilet paper. Container of "hotshot" near hand sink in biscuit prep area. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
41-05-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Two live flies in kitchen area. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Employee switched from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without washing hands and/or touched a dirty surface without washing hands. Female employee touched door of walk in cooler then moved tray that previously contained raw beef patties and continued to done gloves to work on cookline without washing hands. Also, female employee touched clothes and headset over hair and continued to scoop fries without washing hands.
12A-12-4
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. Milk in reach in cooler opened yesterday with no date mark.
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Employee with artificial nails/nail polish working with exposed food without wearing intact gloves. FemAle employee scooped fries with fake nails.
13-06-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Soda nozzles soiled in dining room. Interior of reach in ice cream cooler has build up and standing water. Interior of reach in cooler near walk in cooler soiled on bottom floor. Rolling rack soiled with mold like substance in walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Lid in sink in ware wash area. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Sink near raw chicken station.
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Several employees wearing bracelets and rings while working with food.
13-07-4
Basic - Ceiling tile missing. Two vents removed from ceiling near walk in freezer.
36-36-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Blue drink on prep table over single service items at drive thru. **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Exhaust system operated with filters removed. No means to capture grease and/or condensation to prevent dripping. Over grill in kitchen area. **Repeat Violation**
14-72-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Near raw chicken prep area, large puddle of water. Also, standing water on floor in ware wash area.
36-22-4
Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. Several discarded food packages and cups on ground near dumpster.
33-19-4
Basic - No copy of latest inspection report available. Inspection dated 3/21/22 provided. Last inspection was 4/22/2022.
51-18-6
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Around soda nozzles in dining room soiled. Around doors of all reach in coolers and reach in freezers. Table under grill soiled with grease build up. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Old labels stuck to food containers after cleaning. Two pans on clean dish shelf have old labels.
16-46-4
Basic - Outer openings not protected during operation and vermin and/or environmental cross contamination present. Small crack on bottom of back door, flies present.
35B-05-4
Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Case of cutlery stored on floor near cash register. Also, coffee filters stored on shelf under hand sanitizer. **Repeat Violation**
25-05-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. In walk in freezer, two cases of burgers open and one case of sausage open.
08B-12-5
Basic - Water draining onto floor surface. Water draining on floor under triple sink.
29-03-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. One blue towel on front prep table. Also, sanitizer bucket stored on floor in raw chicken prep area.
21-12-4
14
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hardee's last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Hardee's on file is from Jan 5, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Hardee's?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Hardee's.
How does Hardee's compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Hardee's most recently scored 37 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Hardee's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Hardee's have averaged around eight violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Hardee's 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 Hardee's inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Hardee's is inspected around three times per year on average.
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