Sonic Drive-In #5540
Last inspected: Mar 12, 2026
39
Score
Going back to 2022, Sonic Drive-In #5540 has 10 inspections in the public record. The newest entry in the record is dated Mar 12, 2026. The high risk label is a heads-up that the most recent visit didn't go well.
Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around nine violations per visit lately, up from roughly five violations before.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer”, showing up four times.
By comparison, the average Yulee facility scores 71, putting Sonic Drive-In #5540 on the weaker side. Diners may want to weigh the inspection history when deciding to visit.
10
Inspections
3
Critical latest
1
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 12, 2026
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In stand up reach in cooler on cook line, raw beef (49F - Cold Holding); hotdog (50F - Cold Holding). Employee stated he just put items in cooler 2 hours prior when he got to work. Manager moved items to flip top cooler to bring temperatures down. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer above flip top reach in cooler on cook line, burger patty (91F - Hot Holding, retemp 167F); corndog (109F - Hot Holding, retemp 183F). Manager stated all items were cooked about 15 minutes prior, put into warmer and then warmer was turned on. Employee heated all items up. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottle on register table stored next to single service napkins. Manager removed bottle from table and stored properly. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of nozzles/around nozzles on both soda machines soiled with soda residue. Also, interior of nozzles on tea urns soiled with brown residue.
22-02-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered trash can in women's restroom. **Repeat Violation**
32-12-6
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink cup on top shelf of cook line. Manager moved cup. Also, employee sandwich and drink cup on prep table. Manager moved to bottom shelf away from all food/single service items. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor under ice machine and dry storage rack next to ice machine soiled with food debris. Also, floor under table with register soiled with food debris. Also, floor under fryers and grill have build up of food debris and grease. Also, floor under and wall behind prep table next to 3 compartment sink soiled with residue. Also, wall under 3 compartment sink soiled. Also, floor in walk-in freezer soiled with debris and ice buildup. **Repeat Violation**
36-73-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Multiple gaskets throughout establishment soiled with food debris. Also, hood filters above fryers soiled with grease. Also, table under grill soiled with grease and black residue. Also, fan covers in walk-in cooler soiled with dust build up. Also, multiple ceiling vents in kitchen soiled with dust. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior of flip top reach in cooler on cook line and stand up reach in cooler on cook line soiled. Also, interior of stand up reach in freezer on cook line soiled with food debris. **Repeat Violation**
22-16-4
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom of stand up reach in cooler on cook line.
29-49-6
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Ice bucket not inverted. Manager flipped over. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Cold holding equipment not maintained in good repair. Do not store time/temperature control for safety food in this unit until the unit is repaired. Stand up reach in cooler on cook line ambient air thermometer reading 49F. Actual ambient air of cooler at 52F. Manager moved all Time/Temperature control for safety foods to other reach in cooler/walk-in cooler.
14-74-7
39
Aug 26, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. Observed employee touching raw beef with gloved hand to place on grill and then removing gloves to handling to go containers to store foods without washing hands. Reviewed with employee and employee washed hands **Corrected On-Site**
12A-09-4
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. Operator has several new employees with no proof of form
11-26-1
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Multiple ceiling tiles and vents with dust build up in kitchen
36-34-5
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. In both unisex restrooms
32-12-6
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phone stored on prep table
40-06-5
Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Handle missing on flip top lid on cook line **Repeat Violation**
14-11-5
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Under cooking equipment on cook line **Repeat Violation**
36-73-4
Basic - Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. On cook line floor tile is crack
36-17-5
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of grill and fryer soiled with grease build up. Hood filters with grease build up **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Interior bottom of reach in freezer soiled with food debris
22-16-4
52
Mar 3, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
FL-23
Proper Sanitizer Contact Time and Concentration
FL-33
Lighting Adequate; Required Shields in Place
FL-36
58
Dec 3, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Sep 30, 2024
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Cook opened walk in freezer with gloved hands and touched soiled walk in freezer handle, door, and gasket, then handled frozen french fries and placed them inside reach in freezer on cook line. Manager coached employee on proper hand washing procedures. Employee washed hands correctly. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In stand up reach in cooler near cook line, raw beef stored over ready to eat pasteurized liquid eggs and ready to eat chili. Items moved and stored correctly. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Manager states burgers can be cooked to any desired temperature, but establishment does not have a consumer advisory. Inspector emailed consumer advisory. **Corrective Action Taken**
02B-02-5
Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification and no other certified food service manager employed at this location. No proof of any certified food manager. Manager states he is set up to take exam. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
53A-02-7
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. White cutting boards for meat freezer near cook line.
22-02-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Hand washing sink by fryers has green scrubber inside. Scrubber removed. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Basic - Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Blue ice bucket stored by ice machine in kitchen. Bucket inverted. **Corrected On-Site**
24-05-4
Basic - Employee drinking from an unenclosed beverage container in a food preparation/clean dishware area and the container does not have a dispensing mechanism to prevent hand contact with lip contact area of drink container. Two employee drink cups do not have lids. One drink covered, one drink discarded. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-12-5
Basic - Floors, walls, and/or ceilings soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floors throughout kitchen area under equipment. Multiple floor drains in kitchen. Walls behind equipment in kitchen. Wall by drive through area. Ceiling tiles by ceiling vents in kitchen.
36-73-4
Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. Dumpster outside of establishment.
33-19-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of cooking equipment in kitchen. Hood filters above cooking equipment in kitchen. Multiple handles for coolers and freezers. Gaskets for multiple coolers and freezers. Storage areas for single use items in kitchen.
23-03-4
37
Aug 3, 2023
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Food in Good Condition, Safe, and Unadulterated
FL-13
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
82
Jul 25, 2023
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Intermediate - Multiuse food-contact surface not smooth, free of breaks/cracks/chips/pits/crevices. Sliding plastic doors on ice machine broken
14-16-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. At handsink in rear near triple sink
31B-02-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Personal drink on drink topping area next to cherry toppings
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Back onion ring prep table used to store personal items keys wallet and cell phones, on top of clean gloves
40-06-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Behind unit and on floor of walk in freeer
14-69-4
70
Feb 13, 2023
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance. Fan covers in walk in
36-34-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cells phone line cutting board, moved **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk in freezer
14-69-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler shelves with rust that has pitted the surface. 2 door stand up reach in cooler
14-33-4
82
Sep 1, 2022
Routine - Food
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Around walk in freezer door Burger freezer **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-09-01: Still needs attention **Time Extended**
14-69-4
95
Jul 27, 2022
Complaint Full
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Bathroom facility in disrepair. Handsinks in restrooms not attached to wall **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-05-26: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-27: Attached but not sealed **Time Extended**
32-05-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Faucet leaning/not attached correctly at hand sinks in kitchen and near take our window **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2022-05-26: Still needs **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2022-07-27: Sink faucet still not attached properly **Time Extended**
29-08-4
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonic Drive-In #5540 last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sonic Drive-In #5540 on file is from Mar 12, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonic Drive-In #5540?
Across the inspection record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Sonic Drive-In #5540.
How does Sonic Drive-In #5540 compare to other restaurants in Yulee?
Sonic Drive-In #5540 most recently scored 39 out of 100, which is lower than the Yulee average of 71.
Has Sonic Drive-In #5540's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Sonic Drive-In #5540 have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a high risk rating mean?
A high risk rating at Sonic Drive-In #5540 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 Sonic Drive-In #5540 inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sonic Drive-In #5540 is inspected around three times per year on average.
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