Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Last inspected: Mar 19, 2026
58
Score
Going back to 2024, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has six inspections in the public record. On Mar 19, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near seven violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen's latest score of 58 falls below the Athens average of 88. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
6
Inspections
1
Critical latest
2
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 19, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
6-1C - proper cooling time and temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Cooling rice found on prep table did not reach stage one cooling within two hours. CA: All cooling items (foods) must reach 70F within two hours when doing two-stage cooling. -Rice discarded.
511-6-1.04(6)(d)
2-2D - adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
Inspector notes: Observed handwash sink by fryer not supplied with soap. CA: All handwash sinks must be supplied with soap.
511-6-1.07(3)(a)
2-2D - adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
Inspector notes: Observed handwash sink by fryer not operating. CA: All handwash sinks must be operable.
511-6-1.06(2)(c)
15A - food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used
Inspector notes: Observed ice build-up around gasket in walk-in freezer.
511-6-1.05(6)(a)
17A - toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
Inspector notes: No paper towels provided in restrooms where exit requires touching door handles.
511-6-1.06(2)(h)
17B - garbage/refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: Observed dumpster door open.
511-6-1.06(5)(n)
17D - adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Observed employee food items and jacket stored over food. Employee food/items must be stored below customer food.
511-6-1.07(5)(j)
58
Sep 25, 2025
Routine
8 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.
View 8 violations
14A - in-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Scoop in bulk flour with handle touching flour.
511-6-1.04(4)(k)
14C - single-use/single-service articles: properly stored, used
Inspector notes: Stacks of fry containers stored facing up, not covered or inverted to protect from contamination.
511-6-1.05(10)(e)
17A - toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
Inspector notes: No paper towels provided in restrooms where exit requires touching door handles.
511-6-1.06(2)(h)
17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
Inspector notes: Grout lines low in multiple areas throughout kitchen.
511-6-1.07(2)(a)
4-2A - food stored covered
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Bag of batter flour open with no cover or resealed to protect from contamination. CA: Food must be covered or resealed once opened to protect from contamination. Bag resealed.
511-6-1.04(4)(c)
17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
Inspector notes: Dust build-up on air vent by black door and ceiling by air vent.
511-6-1.07(5)(a)
4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: Dried food debris in multiple microwaves. CA: Microwaves must be cleaned and sanitized at least 1 time every 24 hours.
511-6-1.05(7)(c)
10D - food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: Two bulk flour containers and one bulk chemical container not labeled to identify contents.
511-6-1.04(4)(d)
67
Mar 27, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
2-2D - adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Observed applesauce pouches stored and being washed in front hand sink. CA: Hand sinks can be used for no other purpose than handwashing, cannot be blocked from use. Employee relocated them - COS.
511-6-1.06(2)(o)
2-2B - proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Observed employee drink in disposable cup with no lid & no straw, stored on top of make table. CA: Employee drinks must be stored in a disposable cup with a lid and straw, stored below and separate from food prep and storage. COS - drink discarded.
511-6-1.03(5)(k)
17A - toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
Inspector notes: No paper towels provided in both restrooms where exit requires touching door handles.
511-6-1.06(2)(h)
17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
Inspector notes: Grout lines low in back kitchen by 3-compartment sink.
511-6-1.07(2)(a)
17D - adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Unshielded lightbulb in vent hood over ovens.
511-6-1.07(2)(i)
18 - insects, rodents, and animals not present
Inspector notes: Back kitchen door has light gap at bottom left corner, allowing potential pest entry.
511-6-1.07(2)(m)
70
Oct 16, 2024
Followup
5 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 5 violations
12B - personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Observed bracelets on wrist of food employee in kitchen.
511-6-1.03(5)(g)
12C - wiping cloths: properly used and stored
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Wet cloth bucket stored on top shelf of table next to drive-thru with sauces. Moved to lowest shelf.
511-6-1.04(4)(m)
14A - in-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Scoop in bulk rice container with handle touching product.
511-6-1.04(4)(k)
17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
Inspector notes: Grout lines low in multiple areas of back kitchen.
511-6-1.07(2)(a)
18 - insects, rodents, and animals not present
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Back kitchen door propped open at start of visit. Door closed.
511-6-1.07(2)(m)
78
Sep 17, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 9 violations
5-1A - proper cooking time and temperatures
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Observed raw chicken in fryer not cooked to minimum temperature of 165F (158F). CA: Chicken must be cooked to at least 165F. Chicken breast placed back in fryer and cooked to at least 165F (172F).
511-6-1.04(5)(a)
6-1C - proper cooling time and temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Observed rice, red beans, mac & cheese, and gravy cooling in walk-in cooler (WIC). Rice covered and stacked - did not cool from 135F to 70F within 2 hours discarded. Other items unclear on when cooling began, not monitored. All items discarded. Observed coleslaw being cooled from ambient in covered container. Moved to walk-in freezer (WIF) and observed to be cooling properly. CA: Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods being cooled, must cool from 135F to 70F within 2 hours and 70F to 41F in 4 hours for total elapsed time of 6 hours.
511-6-1.04(6)(d)
1-2A - pic present, demonstrates knowledge, performs duties
Inspector notes: Person in charge (PIC) is not monitoring receiving temperatures of key drop deliveries. PIC is not monitoring proper cooking temperature of chicken in fryers or items in rethermalizer being reheated and cooler. PIC is not monitoring cooling of items or training employees on proper cooling methods. Corrective action (CA): PIC must maintain active managerial control over receiving key drop deliveries, cooking of raw animal foods and cooling.
511-6-1.03(1)(a)
11A - proper cooling methods used: adequate equipment for temperature control
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Above rice and coleslaw moved to WIF and observed to be cooling properly. Rice and bags of food stacked to cool were discarded.
511-6-1.04(6)(e)
17B - garbage/refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: Drain plug missing.
511-6-1.06(5)(o)
17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
Inspector notes: Grout lines low in back kitchen by walk-in cooler door and 3-compartment sink.
511-6-1.07(2)(a)
17D - adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Employee food in designated bin stored over employee food on shelf in walk-in cooler (WIC).
511-6-1.07(5)(j)
18 - insects, rodents, and animals not present
Inspector notes: Back door has light gap at bottom left corner, allowing pest entry. Door must be self-closing and tight-fitting.
511-6-1.07(2)(m)
18 - insects, rodents, and animals not present
Inspector notes: Observed flies and multiple live roaches at front of kitchen near chicken breading station and prep table next to hot cabinet.
511-6-1.07(5)(k)
50
Mar 20, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: Observed buildup of mold in bulk ice machine in kitchen. Corrective action (CA): Have machine cleaned more frequently to prevent mold buildup.
511-6-1.05(7)(b)
14A - in-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Bowl used as scoop in bulk filter powder. All scoops must have a handle.
511-6-1.04(4)(k)
14B - utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, handled
Inspector notes: Multiple stacks of metal bins stacked wet on clean dish rack by 3-compartment sink. Allow to air-dry before stacking.
511-6-1.05(10)(e)
14C - single-use/single-service articles: properly stored, used
Inspector notes: Single-service cups stacked inverted at drive-thru window with no sleeve leaving lips of cups exposed.
511-6-1.05(10)(e)
15A - food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used
Inspector notes: Ice buildup throughout walk-in freezer, including on door gasket.
511-6-1.05(6)(a)
15C - nonfood-contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Hot cabinet vent has buildup of dust.
511-6-1.05(7)(a)
17D - adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Employee food in designated bin stored over customer food on shelf in walk-in cooler.
511-6-1.07(5)(j)
67
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on file is from Mar 19, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
How does Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen compare to other restaurants in Athens?
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Athens average of 88.
Has Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen have averaged around seven violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 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 Louisiana Kitchen inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is inspected around three times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants