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Lings Buffet

4320 S Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33813
Asian / Fusion
Last inspected: Dec 16, 2025
58
Score
Medium Risk

The health department has logged nine inspections at Lings Buffet, the earliest from 2022. On Dec 16, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.

Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around three violations lately and about five violations before that.

Across the inspection history, “time/temperature control for safety food thawed” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.

Restaurants in Lakeland average 86, so Lings Buffet trails the local norm. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.

9
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 16, 2025
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Intermediate - Water with a temperature of least 85 degrees Fahrenheit not provided/shut off at employee handwash sink. Hand washing sink next to the mop sink.
27-16-4
Intermediate - Packaged food has no English labeling. White bulk containers in the dry storage area.
02D-06-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Ribs thawing on the bottom shelf of a prep table. Ribs was removed and placed inside the walk in cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
06-01-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. Left bottom corner on the interior white panel on the 1st ice machine is soiled.
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Cases of broccoli on the floor during prep. The broccoli was removed from off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Ice scoop on top of the ice machine. The ice scoop was removed to be washed, rinsed and sanitized. **Corrective Action Taken**
10-12-5
Basic - Light not functioning. Under the hood system on the cook line.
36-62-4
Basic - No hot running water at mop sink.
27-10-4
Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Employee cutting broccoli. I had the employee to wash the broccoli before cutting. **Corrective Action Taken**
08B-39-4
58
Jun 25, 2025
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Mar 14, 2025
Complaint Partial
No violations found.
100
Jan 16, 2025
Complaint Full
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. Ice machine to the left.
22-20-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Container inside a bag of flour. Dry storage. The container was removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
90
Aug 8, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Employee washed hands with no soap. At the hand washing sink in the back prep area across from the tables with the rice cooker. **Repeat Violation**
12A-20-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Cooking pot in the hand washing sink in the back prep area. The pot was removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Last hand washing sink in the back prep area. Paper towels was replaced. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Hand washing sink in the back prep area across from the rice cooker. Soap was replaced. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-03-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on soiled surface between uses. Ice scoop on top of the ice machine. The ice scoops was washed,rinsed and sanitized and placed inside a container. **Corrected On-Site**
10-12-5
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. Both ice machines.
22-20-5
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bucket of potatoes on the floor across from the fryers. The potatoes was removed from off the floor. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Frog legs, blue crabs thawing in standing water in the 3 compartment sink near the walk in cooler. **Repeat Violation**
06-01-5
52
Feb 14, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Employee washed hands with no soap.
12A-20-4
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. February 1,2024
50-17-3
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over blue crabs inside the walk in cooler. Crabs was relocated. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Employee dried hands on clothes/apron/soiled towel after washing.
12A-18-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Shrimp thawing in a container of standing water. On the prep table across from the electrical room.
06-01-5
52
Nov 7, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Insects inside a bag of bulk flour.
01B-13-4
High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. Insects inside a bag of Pillsbury XXX PATENT FLOUR. Flour was discarded. **Corrective Action Taken**
35A-09-4
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed his hands at the 3 compartment sink. I had the employee to wash his hands at a designated hand was sink. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Packaged food has no English labeling. Bulk food containers. In the dry storage area.
02D-06-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. 2 jackets stored on the shelf next to the wasabi sauce. In the dry storage area across from the walk in freezer. The jackets were removed. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
58
May 11, 2023
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Nov 9, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Lings Buffet last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Lings Buffet on file is from Dec 16, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Lings Buffet?

Across the inspection record, “time/temperature control for safety food thawed” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Lings Buffet.

How does Lings Buffet compare to other restaurants in Lakeland?

Lings Buffet most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Lakeland average of 86.

Has Lings Buffet's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Lings Buffet have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Lings Buffet 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 Lings Buffet inspected?

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

Nearby Restaurants
Sushi Masa Seafood & Japanese Fusion
5700 S Florida Ave
Score: 95 — Low Risk
Winners Circle Sportsbar and Grill
4215 S Florida Ave
Score: 95 — Low Risk
La Guapachosa
6595 S Florida Ave Ste 9
Score: 74 — Medium Risk
Explore More
→ All locations in Lakeland → Asian / Fusion restaurants in Florida → Asian / Fusion restaurants in Lakeland
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