Hibachi Express
Last inspected: Apr 13, 2026
64
Score
Inspectors have visited Hibachi Express 10 times, with records going back to 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Apr 13, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around seven violations to closer to five violations per visit over the last few inspections.
Looking across the full record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.
Hibachi Express' latest score of 64 falls below the Valrico average of 81. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
10
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 13, 2026
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 3 live roaches under three compartment sink Manager eradicated, clean, and sanitized area **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
35A-05-4
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. 3 certificates expired **Warning**
53B-14-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gasket torn reach in cooler cooks line **Warning**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Under cooking equipment **Warning**
36-73-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooks line 78 **Warning**
10-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on reach in cooler cooks line **Warning**
23-03-4
64
Oct 10, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Observed raw chicken stored behind raw shrimp in flip top cooler on cookline.
08A-20-5
High Priority - Non-food grade paper/paper towel used as liner for food container. Observed lining bottom of containers holding roe and chopped scallions at sushi bar.
14-86-1
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Blocked by trash can. Operator moved can. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottles observed under with purple liquid unlabeled.
41-17-4
Basic - Dead roaches on premises. 1 observed in cabinet under soda fountain. 2 observed on floor under 3 compartment sink.Operator removed, cleaned and sanitized the areas. **Corrected On-Site**
35A-03-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Buckets of soy sauce on the floor at cookline Soy sauce and cooking oil on floor in dish area.
08B-38-4
Basic - Unwrapped single-service utensils not presented so that only the handles are touched. Plastic utensils at customer self serve station. Operator placed correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
25-02-4
52
Mar 28, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations.
View 2 violations
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Thawed salmon portions previously frozen and thawed
02C-08-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At sushi station
31B-02-4
82
Oct 21, 2024
Routine - Food
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Operator prepared whole salmon portions into individual servings, stored in walk in freezer without date markings. Further observed salmon portions removed from the freezer, thawed in walk in cooler without date markings. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-14: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2024-10-21: **Time Extended**
02C-04-5
90
Aug 14, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed pan of raw chicken stored over ready to eat produce in walk in cooler. Observed unwashed produce stored above ready to eat produce in wali in cooler **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-14: **Time Extended**
08A-05-6
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Observed cut, ready to eat zucchini placed back into original packaging (cardboard box). See stop sale. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-14: Stop sale 10 pounds of zucchini that was found peeled and stored back in original case **Admin Complaint**
01B-07-4
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Operator stated that Hibachi steak is cooked to medium/medium well without consumer knowledge that the product is undercooked **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-14: **Time Extended**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Operator prepared whole salmon portions into individual servings, stored in walk in freezer without date markings. Further observed salmon portions removed from the freezer, thawed in walk in cooler without date markings. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-14: **Time Extended**
02C-04-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Food-contact surface not cleaned and sanitized between working with unwashed produce and ready-to-eat food. Observed cut, ready to eat zucchini placed back into original packaging (cardboard box). See stop sale. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-14: Observed 1 case of zucchini that was peeled and placed back into original container. **Admin Complaint**
08B-29-4
58
Aug 12, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 9 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. Observed employee crack shell eggs into wok with bare hands, then immediately grab utensils to begin cooking the eggs without washing hands. **Warning**
12A-27-4
High Priority - Observed cut, ready to eat zucchini placed back into original packaging (cardboard box). See stop sale. **Warning**
01B-07-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed pan of raw chicken stored over ready to eat produce in walk in cooler. Observed unwashed produce stored above ready to eat produce in wali in cooler **Warning**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed buildup of debris under soda fountain beneath fountain heads. **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand sink at such line with a bowl of water inside. Employee removed the bowl. Observed utensils stored in hand sink in prep area. Employee removed the utensils. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Operator stated that Hibachi steak is cooked to medium/medium well without consumer knowledge that the product is undercooked **Warning**
02B-01-5
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed at hand sink in male bathroom. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed at hand sink in sushi prep area. **Warning**
31B-03-4
Intermediate - No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Operator has copy of paperwork in email to print and prepare **Warning**
03F-10-5
Intermediate - Operator prepared whole salmon portions into individual servings, stored in walk in freezer without date markings. Further observed salmon portions removed from the freezer, thawed in walk in cooler without date markings. **Warning**
02C-04-5
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Observed at hand sink in prep area. Found the hot water inlet valve turned off. Owner turned the hot water on. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
27-16-4
Intermediate - Establishment advertised crab on menu/menu board but served imitation crab. Observed a case of crab cheese rangoons. Ingredients lists imitation crab. The operator corrected the display menu to properly identify the imitation crab. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
52-03-4
Basic - Food-contact surface not cleaned and sanitized between working with unwashed produce and ready-to-eat food. Observed cut, ready to eat zucchini placed back into original packaging (cardboard box). See stop sale. **Warning**
08B-29-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed black mold-like substance on interior of ice machine, and around the perimeter of the opening **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed in female bathroom. **Warning**
31B-04-4
Basic - Opened employee opened water located on prep table at cook line. Manager removed **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
21
Jan 17, 2024
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Plastic bowl in sushi bar sink **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked meats, in walk in cooler
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee eating in a food preparation or other restricted area. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-02-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk in cooler gaskets soiled
23-03-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Hand sink on cook line drains into 5 gal bucket
29-08-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
21-12-4
67
Aug 23, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Obtained from Approved Sources
FL-11
Plumbing Maintained; Sewage Disposal
FL-51
70
Oct 28, 2022
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed Observed raw beef stored over unwashed broccoli in walk-in cooler Corrected-on employee remove beef and place on bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Observed stored on floor at sushi bar Corrected-observed employee place on shelf **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
Basic - Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Observed sanitizer tested at 0ppm , Corrected-observed employee discard, replace and retest at 50ppm **Corrected On-Site**
21-07-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed 2 containers of oil stored on floor near mop sink **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
74
Jul 27, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Observed raw chicken stored over washed zucchini in walk-in cooler Inspector emailed operator a storage chart Corrected-observed employee place chicken on bottom shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08A-04-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed 2 C02 tanks not secured in dish area **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee cigarettes and lighter stored on shelf in dry storage over food Corrected -observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Observed gap on screen door in back of restaurant
35B-01-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed a bag of onions stored on floor in kitchen **Repeat Violation**
08B-47-4
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hibachi Express last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Hibachi Express on file is from Apr 13, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Hibachi Express?
Across the inspection record, “nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Hibachi Express.
How does Hibachi Express compare to other restaurants in Valrico?
Hibachi Express most recently scored 64 out of 100, which is lower than the Valrico average of 81.
Has Hibachi Express' inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Hibachi Express have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Hibachi Express 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 Hibachi Express inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Hibachi Express is inspected around three times per year on average.
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