Sonic Drive-In
Last inspected: Feb 3, 2026
67
Score
Public records show five inspections at Sonic Drive-In stretching back to 2023. Inspectors last stopped by on Feb 3, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around four violations to closer to six violations.
Looking across the full record, “ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer” is the recurring theme, flagged four times.
Compared to other Ocala restaurants (averaging 78), there's room to close the gap. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 3, 2026
Routine - Food
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
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
Toilet Rooms Maintained
FL-53
67
Apr 1, 2025
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Open box of raw steak stored above open box of onion in reach in freezer. Manager placed steak on bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Walk-in-freezer has ice build up on and behind cooling unit. Reach in freezer on cookline line has ice build up on door. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. HOT HOLDING cabinet soiled with grease build up. Top of fries machine oiled with dust and food particles.
23-03-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Container of food removed ( salt ) from original container not labeled with name of contents. Manager placed label on container.
02D-01-5
74
Oct 25, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
High Priority - Employee dried hands on clothes/apron/soiled towel after washing. Employee wearing gloves handling food tied apron and then grabbed foil for food touched bread and Chicken, without removing gloves, washing hands and putting on clean gloves. Another employee wearing gloves wiped hands on pant leg then took out Ready-To-Eat bread bun and prepared food order, without removing gloves, washing hands and putting on clean gloves. Discussed with Manager.
12A-18-4
Basic - Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. No covered waste receptacle provided in women's bathroom.
32-12-5
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Ice buildup up on cooling unit and floor in walk-in-freezer. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
78
Jan 11, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. **Corrected On-Site**
03B-01-6
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Drinks stored on shelf above bread cart, manager moved the cart. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior part of ice cream machines. **Repeat Violation**
23-03-4
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in cooler at the drive thru area soiled, cooler at the cook line with mold-like substance, also shelves soiled on other coolers. Also observed black spots inside ice machine.
22-16-4
Basic - Water leaking from pipe and/or faucet/handle. Under small triple sink near office area.
29-11-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. In walk-in freezer around fan areas. **Repeat Violation**
14-69-4
67
Mar 21, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. In reach in freezer on cookline. Opened cases of raw beef stored on shelf over mozzarella sticks.
08A-02-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese 50F in ice bath on cookline for 30 minutes. Manager added ice to bath to bring temperature down to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for employee hired more than 60 days ago. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Training missing for 36 employees. Also, several certificates missing information. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**
53B-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of reach in freezer on cookline has food debris. Reach in cooler at end of cookline has food debris. Nozzles of shake machine near drive thru window soiled. Interior of reach in chest freezer soiled. Cutting board over chest freezer soiled with pink substance.
22-02-4
Basic - Bathroom facility not clean. Toilets soiled in men's and women's room. Also, floor has trash in women's room.
32-07-4
Basic - Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Near Ice machine, standing water on floor. **Repeat Violation**
36-22-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Around interior walls of upright reach in freezer on cookline.
14-69-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Around nozzles of two shake machines soiled with food debris. Exterior of reach in cooler and freezers on cookline soiled with grease and food debris.n **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. Screw driver on prep table next to single service items.
42-03-5
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonic Drive-In last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Sonic Drive-In on file is from Feb 3, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Sonic Drive-In?
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.
How does Sonic Drive-In compare to other restaurants in Ocala?
Sonic Drive-In most recently scored 67 out of 100, which is lower than the Ocala average of 78.
Has Sonic Drive-In's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Sonic Drive-In have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Sonic Drive-In 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 Sonic Drive-In inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Sonic Drive-In is inspected around two times per year on average.
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