Popeyes
Last inspected: Nov 25, 2025
74
Score
Inspectors have visited Popeyes 11 times, with records going back to 2022. Popeyes was last inspected on Nov 25, 2025. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around three violations, down from roughly five violations earlier in the record.
“No paper towels” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.
By comparison, the average Clearwater facility scores 79, putting Popeyes on the weaker side. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
11
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 25, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed employee touching raw chicken while donning gloves touch clean fry basket without first washing hands. Discussed with operator proper hand hygiene techniques.
12A-09-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. From reach-in cooler on cooks line. Operator placed item in ice bath. a. sliced cheese (63f - Cold Holding)
03A-02-5
74
Jan 14, 2025
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink Employee placed paper towels at hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee backpacks stored next to bags of flour in dry storage area . Manager relocated backpacks **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Food ( containers of water to make batter ) not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor in walk in cooler. Manager relocated containers of water **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
82
Sep 13, 2024
Routine - Food
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Employee with ineffective hair restraint while engaging in food preparation of chicken . Reviewed with manager . Employee put on a hair net. **Corrected On-Site** - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: **Time Extended**
13-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside in back of kitchen area . Reviewed with manager - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: **Time Extended**
35B-01-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer. Reviewed with manager - From follow-up inspection 2024-09-13: **Time Extended**
14-69-4
86
Jul 15, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Equipment, Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Approved
FL-35
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
41
Apr 8, 2024
Complaint Partial
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
95
Jan 23, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 flying insect on window sill in exit door area - manager removed flying insect **Corrected On-Site**
35A-02-6
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Employee dumped ice in hand wash sink near drive thru.. Reviewed with manager hand wash sinks are for washing hands only **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink in dishwashing area - employee placed paper towels in dispenser **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Records/documents for required employee training do not contain all of the required information. Popeyes has state approved program but cannot provide required employee information : the date of birth of the trained employee, and the date the training occurred
53B-10-4
Basic - Clean equipment/dish ware ( scoop for flour) stored next to handwash exposed to splash. Employee moved scoop to triple sink to clean **Corrective Action Taken**
24-27-4
Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Discussed with manager - employees removed bracelets **Corrected On-Site**
13-07-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues opposite oven
22-16-4
55
Sep 11, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
41
Jul 13, 2023
Complaint Full
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling tiles and vents in kitchen are soiled with grease and dust debris. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
36-34-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Double ovens behind hot holding area have built up food debris. Microwave ovens by walk in cooler have built up food debris. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
22-08-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Walls in kitchen area are soiled with dust and grease debris. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-13: **Time Extended**
36-27-5
86
Jul 12, 2023
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1 live fly in dining room not landing on food or food contact surfaces. 4 live flies by soda machine not landing on food or food contact surfaces. 1 live fly in kitchen not landing on food or food contact surfaces. **Warning**
35A-02-6
High Priority - Presence of insects, rodents, or other pests. 6 dead flies in window sills of dining room area. 11 dead flies along wall area of soda machine. 2 dead flies in corner of dry goods storage area. Employee remove and sanitized the area. **Warning**
35A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand wash sink by walk in cooler used to dump ice. **Warning**
31A-11-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling tiles and vents in kitchen are soiled with grease and dust debris. **Warning**
36-34-5
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. **Warning**
50-09-4
Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. Gap between glass doors on South side entrance. **Warning**
35B-01-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Double ovens behind hot holding area have built up food debris. Microwave ovens by walk in cooler have built up food debris. **Warning**
22-08-4
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Walls in kitchen area are soiled with dust and grease debris. **Warning**
36-27-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Containers of flour not labeled. Manager labeled appropriately. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
02D-01-5
50
Mar 21, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
High Priority - Certified Food Manager or person in charge failed to verify employee health, exclusions or restrictions. Discussed with operator and emailed big six packet. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. raw portioned chicken (45F - Cold Holding), operator added ice to ice bath and ice bag to food item. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee engaged in food preparation with no hair restraint.
13-03-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. -Both microwaves in kitchen, behind the ice machine shows accumulation of debris on interior. -Bottom oven in kitchen, to the right of the stand up cooler shows accumulation of debris in interior bottom.
22-08-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Fry oil in rear of establishment on the floor. Employee moved to shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
64
Dec 12, 2022
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Dishmachine quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dish machine tested at 0ppm. Operator changed sanitizer water and it tested at 200ppm quaternary. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
22-47-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Operator provided paper towels. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Certified Food Manager or person in charge lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses and symptoms of illness that would prevent an employee from working with food, clean equipment and utensils, and single-service items. Sent big six package to increase knowledge. **Corrective Action Taken**
11-07-5
Basic - Cove molding at floor/wall juncture broken/missing. In kitchen, between the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer to the wall has missing cove molding.
36-03-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed. At time of inspection, no license displayed at the time. **Repeat Violation**
50-09-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee phone above prep table in kitchen, to the right of the microwave. Employee moved phone. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Stacked plastic pans in dish area on shelving to the right of the three compartment sink, shows wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Gaskets on walk-in cooler are torn.
14-11-5
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. Interior of bottom oven in kitchen behind the single door deli cooler shows accumulation of debris on interior bottom. Microwave in kitchen located behind the ice machine shows accumulation of debris on interior.
22-08-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on walk-in cooler show accumulation of debris and mold like substance. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Plumbing system improperly installed or repaired. Dipper well near the front counter was not functioning properly. When turned on, water would leak onto floor.
29-07-5
Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Walk-in kitchen behind the fryers shows accumulation of debris and grease.
36-27-5
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Mop stored in empty mop bucket in rear of kitchen by the mop sink. Employee hung mop. **Corrected On-Site**
42-01-4
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Popeyes last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Popeyes on file is from Nov 25, 2025. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Popeyes?
Across the inspection record, “no paper towels” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Popeyes.
How does Popeyes compare to other restaurants in Clearwater?
Popeyes most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Clearwater average of 79.
Has Popeyes' inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Popeyes 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 Popeyes 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 Popeyes inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Popeyes is inspected around four times per year on average.
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