Hooters of South Tampa
Last inspected: Jan 12, 2026
82
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Hooters of South Tampa, the earliest from 2022. On Jan 12, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around five violations, down from roughly nine violations earlier in the record.
When inspectors have written things up, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Among Tampa restaurants, the typical score is 79; Hooters of South Tampa is comfortably above that bar. The record reflects steady performance over time.
9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 12, 2026
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed lowboy reach in cooler door handles are soiled at time of inspection.
23-24-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed grooved cutting boards in kitchen at time of inspection.
14-09-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed wet nesting on stacked metal food containers stored on shelves at time of inspection.
24-08-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed missing floor tiles on cooks line at time of inspection. **Repeat Violation**
36-17-5
82
Jul 15, 2025
Routine - Food
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed torn gaskets on reach in cooler on cooks line at time of inspection.
14-11-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tile shows damage or is in disrepair. Observed ceiling tiles in dish room by air conditioning vent stained and warped at time of inspection.
36-32-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed a mold like substance inside ice machine bin at time of inspection.
22-20-5
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed missing floor tiles on cooks line at time of inspection.
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed cutting board area around nozzle on soda machine soiled at time of inspection.
23-03-4
78
Jan 13, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Areas around soda nozzles soiled at time of inspection.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed energy drink can in hand wash sink in dish room. Operator disposed of drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Floor tiles missing on cooks line at time of inspection.
36-17-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed unlabeled squeeze bottles on cooks line at time of inspection.
02D-01-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed build up of old grease under fryers at time of inspection.
23-03-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee hat stored on loves of bread in case on cooks line. Operator removed hat during inspection n
40-06-5
67
Jul 29, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
55
Feb 29, 2024
Routine - Food
3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime - Can opener soiled with old food debris - Cutting boards stained in kitchen
22-02-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Sink next to ice machine.
31B-05-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed unlabeled bottle with a blue liquid in room next to dry storage. Operator labeled at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. -Mop left in bucket at time of inspection. Operator had employee hang mop to dry. - Soiled mop water left in bucket. Operator had employee empty mop bucket during inspection **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards in kitchen
14-09-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Observed missing tiles from wall in dishroom behind sprayer
36-24-5
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Observed food debris on clean plastic food container on shelf in prep room. Operator moved to dish room to re clean **Corrected On-Site**
16-48-4
Basic - Open dumpster lid. Operator had employee close during inspection **Corrected On-Site**
33-16-4
58
Oct 16, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb. Hose bib in back store room
29-34-4
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Observed toxic substance in bottle without label in server station, dish room and togo area. Operator removed bottles and began labeling. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
41-17-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Mold like substance on soda fountain at server station in dining room at time of inspection.
22-02-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at hand sink in back server station. Operator replaced at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Shelves in dry storage rusty at time of inspection. Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Observed cutting boards in prep room on shelf.
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors soiled around equipment on front cooks line and in dish room.
36-73-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Observed areas in dish room, prep room and by the mop sink with wall damage during inspection.
36-24-5
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Observed pan stored with clean pans soiled with food debris. Operator moved soiled pan to dish room to wash during inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
16-48-4
Basic - Open recycle dumpster lid.
33-16-4
Basic - Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. Unwashed tomatoes over cut tomatoes in walk in cooler and unwashed lemons and oranges over cut celery and lettuce in walk in cooler- manager began rearranging. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-17-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipes under. Triple sink in dish room
29-11-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Pans on shelves in prep room. Orange beverage cups at server station in dining room
24-08-4
41
Jan 26, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine not sanitizing properly. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Ecolab called and serviced machine during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
22-49-4
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.
11-27-4
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.
11-26-1
Intermediate - Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. **Corrected On-Site**
41-17-4
Basic - Clean, single-use gloves not handled in a sanitary manner. Used glove on prep table **Corrected On-Site**
25-30-4
Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package.
06-09-1
Basic - Stored food not covered. Croutons on cooks line, near customer seating area **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
52
Sep 14, 2022
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 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. - From follow-up inspection 2022-09-14: **Time Extended**
53B-01-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Metal bowl in flour **Corrected On-Site** - From follow-up inspection 2022-09-14: **Time Extended** **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
86
Aug 1, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Management spoke to employee **Corrected On-Site**
12A-16-4
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly by servers handsink and 1 live by bag in box soda. Next routine per Jessica
35A-02-6
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Can spray cleaner by single use gloves **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener **Corrected On-Site**
22-02-4
Basic - Clean linens stored on floor. **Corrected On-Site**
21-17-4
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop in flour container **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Metal pans sent to dishroom **Corrected On-Site**
16-48-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Large bin with flour on cooks line and clear container of sugar in prep room
02D-01-5
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hooters of South Tampa last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Hooters of South Tampa on file is from Jan 12, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Hooters of South Tampa?
Across the inspection record, “food-contact surface soiled with food debris” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Hooters of South Tampa.
How does Hooters of South Tampa compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Hooters of South Tampa most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is higher than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Hooters of South Tampa's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Hooters of South Tampa have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly nine earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Hooters of South Tampa means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Hooters of South Tampa inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Hooters of South Tampa is inspected around three times per year on average.
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