Sakura Buffet
Last inspected: Jan 27, 2026
29
Score
Sakura Buffet appears in inspection records nine times, starting in 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Jan 27, 2026. A high risk rating points to multiple serious findings at the most recent inspection.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around eight violations, down from roughly 13 violations earlier in the record.
Looking across the full record, “food stored on floor” is the recurring theme, flagged six times.
Compared to other Lake City restaurants (averaging 80), there's room to close the gap. Taken together, the history suggests a facility that has struggled with consistency.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
1
Major latest
7
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 27, 2026
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Procedures for Responding to Vomiting/Diarrheal Events
FL-05
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
29
Aug 4, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Adequate Handwashing Facilities Supplied and Accessible
FL-10
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
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
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
22
Jun 24, 2025
Complaint Partial
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - Food stored on floor. Case of food on floor in walk-in cooler. Operator moved to shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-38-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Bin of chicken in walk-in cooler not covered. Manager covered with Saran Wrap. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-12-5
90
Jan 8, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Priority: High Priority Observed: Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Mushroom stuffing stored in grocery take-out bags.
14-15-4
Intermediate - Priority: Intermediate Observed: Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards soiled with mold-like substance. Ice bin soiled with mold-like substance. Can opener blade soiled with mold like substance and food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Priority: Intermediate Observed: Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Brillo pad in front hand wash sink.
31A-11-4
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Walk-in cooler/freezer shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. Walk-in cooler shelves rusty.
14-17-4
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. No-handle container used as scoop in sugar. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling vents and tiles in kitchen area soiled with dust and grease accumulation. **Repeat Violation**
36-34-5
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Cutting boards grooved. **Repeat Violation**
14-09-4
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drink on galley and kitchen prep tables. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Food stored on floor. Case of potatoes on kitchen floor, container of oil on kitchen and storage room floor.
08B-38-4
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall near back door. **Repeat Violation**
36-24-5
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs on fryer door handle. **Repeat Violation**
10-20-4
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop handle submerged in sugar. Manger removed. **Corrected On-Site**
10-01-5
Basic - Priority: Basic Observed: Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Walk-in cooler shelves soiled with old food debris, rust, and mold-like substances. Walk-in cooler fan guard soiled with dust accumulation amped mold-like substances. Hood filters soiled with grease accumulation. Reach-in cooler gaskets soiled with old food debris and mold-like substances. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
43
Aug 20, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 11 violations
High Priority - Employee washed hands with no soap. Employee briefly, 5 seconds, rinsed hands with water and no soap then resumed food preparation.
12A-20-4
Intermediate - Employee washed hands in a sink other than an approved handwash sink. Employee washed hands in service sink and resumed food preparation.
12A-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards soiled with mold-like substance. Ice bin soiled with mold-like substance. Can opener blade soiled with mold like substance and food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs on door handle on cookline.
10-20-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of cooking oil on floor near cookline and bin of uncovered dumplings on floor of f walk-in freezer.. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Ceiling vents and tiles in kitchen area soiled with dust and grease accumulation.
36-34-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Cutting boards grooved. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Fly sticky tape hanging over food/food preparation area/food-contact equipment. Fly strip over prep table where chicken is prepared.
35B-08-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall near back door. **Repeat Violation**
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Hood filters soiled with grease accumulation. Reach-in cooler gaskets soiled with old food debris. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Storage of maintenance equipment/tools in areas that may result in cross contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens and/or single-service and single-use articles. Pliers on container of sauce.
42-03-5
47
Mar 5, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 14 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach-in cooler: fish (47F, 46F - Cold Holding). Manager moved to walk-in cooler and placed in ice bath. In another reach-in cooler: raw oysters (47F -Cold Holding). Manager voluntarily discarded.
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards stained with mold-like substance. Ice bin soiled with mold-like substance. Can opener blade soiled with mold like substance and paper.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Rice and scouring pad in front hand wash sink.
31A-11-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic food bin used as scoop in bulk container of sugar. Manager removed.
14-01-5
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Carbon dioxide tanks not secured behind establishment. **Repeat Violation**
51-11-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table. Manager discarded. **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employees food in to-go box on top shelf of reach-in cooler, not marked or segregated. Manger discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-49-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Cutting boards grooved.
14-11-5
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Standing water on floor throughout kitchen.
36-22-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Container of cooking oil on floor. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Hole in wall near back door. **Repeat Violation**
36-24-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach-in cooler gaskets soiled with old food debris.
23-03-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink in reach-in cooler. Manager removed. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Stored food not covered. Cut potatoes in walk-in cooler not covered. **Repeat Violation**
08B-12-5
41
Nov 3, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 7 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not marked with last date served. Observed tags not marked with last date used. Inspector spoke to employee and explained that last date used needs to be marked on tags and kept in chronological order.
01C-03-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured behind establishment.
51-11-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in employee unisex bathroom. Observed no covered waste receptacle provided in employee unisex bathroom by back entrance.
32-12-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored between rice cookers in kitchen. Manager removed drink from area. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Observed boxes of food and buckets on floor in walk-in-freezer **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Hole in or other damage to wall. Observed hole on wall by back door.
36-24-5
Basic - Stored food not covered. Observed raw Chicken and beef no covered in walk-in-cooler and walk-in-freezer.
08B-12-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Observed working container of food removed ( sugar ) from original container not identified by common name.
02D-01-5
64
Mar 28, 2023
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 7 minor violations.
View 13 violations
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 and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. All items that they use on time, employees rushed to put labels on during the beginning of inspection.
03F-02-5
High Priority - Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Plastic container with hinge lid hold squid veggie mix in walk in cooler. Raw beef in walk in freezer inside Togo smiley bag.
14-15-4
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken over raw pork in reach in cooler on cooks line, operator placed pork above chicken. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
08A-20-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. tofu (64F - Cold Holding) item on top of other containers not fully in the cooler, operator placed tofu in the bottom of the unit to allow the cold air to get too the food. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Clam/mussel/oyster tags not maintained in chronological order according to the last date they were served in the establishment. **Repeat Violation**
01C-05-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior ice machine. Cutting boards with stains. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Shrimp thawing in standing water, employees placed in prep sink with water constantly running of food. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
06-01-5
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic cup in corn starch, operator removed cup. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. In between prep table and reach in cooler on cooks line, employee moved knife. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
10-17-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bin of cooked chicken cooling on floor under oven. Raw beef on floor in walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. In the front storage closet. **Repeat Violation**
36-73-4
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Cutting boards with deep cut marks. Corn starch bulk container lid cracked. **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phone on shelf above reach in cooler on cooks line, employee placed item in pocket. **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
32
Oct 3, 2022
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sakura Buffet last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sakura Buffet on file is from Jan 27, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sakura Buffet?
Across the inspection record, “food stored on floor” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Sakura Buffet.
How does Sakura Buffet compare to other restaurants in Lake City?
Sakura Buffet most recently scored 29 out of 100, which is lower than the Lake City average of 80.
Has Sakura Buffet's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Sakura Buffet have averaged around eight violations per visit, down from roughly 13 earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Sakura Buffet means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.
How often is Sakura Buffet inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sakura Buffet is inspected around three times per year on average.
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