Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ
Last inspected: Apr 14, 2026
70
Score
Public records show eight inspections at Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ stretching back to 2022. The most recent visit was on Apr 14, 2026. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around two violations to closer to seven violations per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “accumulation of black/green mold-like substance” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ's latest score of 70 falls below the Tallahassee average of 88. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 14, 2026
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Establishment not maintaining clam/mussel/oyster tags for 90 days.
01C-02-4
Intermediate - Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
53B-05-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. **Repeat Violation**
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored on floor in dry storage. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Buildup on containers used to store bottled beverages.
23-03-4
70
Jul 24, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.
50-17-3
Intermediate - Raw or undercooked oysters offered and establishment has no consumer advisory sign provided on wall, menu, placard, table tent or by any other written means. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Provided oyster advisory. **Corrected On-Site**
02A-01-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cooked items in walk-in cooler.
02C-02-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Beef in walk-in freezer.
08B-38-4
Basic - Frozen time/temperature control for safety food being slacked at room temperature is no longer frozen solid.
06-06-5
61
Apr 28, 2025
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting board on cook line.
22-02-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Observed bowl in sugar container.
14-01-5
Basic - Clean utensils stored between equipment and wall. Observed knives in between prep tables in kitchen.
24-14-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Employee restroom.
32-12-6
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Observed cups stacked in waitress area.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Observed gaskets torn on walk-in cooler and walk-in Freezer.
14-11-5
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Back door.
35B-01-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed soy sauce containers on floor and cooking oil on floor next to cook line.
08B-38-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed sweet potato and corn Starch containers Without labels. Observed unlabeled containers on prep area in kitchen. Operator corrected during time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
02D-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed mold-like substance and in disrepair. Per operator going to be getting a new one.
22-20-5
58
Aug 8, 2024
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed raw beef stored over packaged juice in walk in cooler.
08A-05-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed multiple food items held above 41F at buffet line at 1:15. Per manager held since approximately 12:30: Make Table 3/5: quail eggs 49F, squid 49F, Make Table 4/5: pork belly 54F, raw beef 53F, Make Table 5/5: watermelon 45F Manager filled make table with ice during inspection. New temperatures at 1:45: quail eggs 41F, squid 41F, pork belly 40F, raw beef 39F, watermelon 43F. Informed manager to frequently check temperatures during operation hours. **Corrected On-Site**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed dish machine trays soiled.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed two handwashing sinks blocked and one hand washing sink with water shut off. Manager made hand wash sinks accessible and turned water on during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed utensils in standing water 73F at boba station. Manager removed utensils from water during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
10-07-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed iced tea stored uncovered at boba station. Employee covered iced tea during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
55
Mar 19, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
86
Feb 19, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Feb 21, 2023
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination. Observed area where large leaf lettuce and dressings are located next meat products are aren't adequately protected from contamination. Observed employee remove exposed food from buffet; customers will required to ask upon request for products. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-01-4
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. Observed all food products on buffet line that was changed out at 3:20pm with no time mark at 3:50pm. Observed manager place time mark on food. **Corrected On-Site**
03F-02-5
High Priority - Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Observed grocery bags and trash bags used in direct contact with food products throughout establishment.
14-31-5
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. Operator.
53B-13-5
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.
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand wash sink in wait station in buffet area used to store spray bottles.
31A-11-4
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
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Observed ice machine in wait station soiled and damage.
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed meat products in containers in walk in freezer stored on floor.
08B-38-4
39
Oct 13, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations.
View 3 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Floors, Walls, and Ceilings Clean and in Good Repair
FL-52
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ on file is from Apr 14, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ?
Across the inspection record, “accumulation of black/green mold-like substance” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ.
How does Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ compare to other restaurants in Tallahassee?
Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the Tallahassee average of 88.
Has Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ 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 Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Lao Jia Hot Pot and BBQ is inspected around two times per year on average.
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