CHINA BUFFET

Name: CHINA BUFFET
Address: 1245 E FOWLER AVE, TAMPA, FL, 33612
Telephone: 8134358291

TAMPA, FL

dba CHINA BUFFET OF TAMPA UNITED INC

Status Current (20)

Overview & reputation

China Buffet is a seating restaurant located at 1245 E Fowler Ave in Tampa with 247 seats. The restaurant operates under the license of China Buffet of Tampa United Inc and serves Chinese cuisine. According to available information, the restaurant typically operates from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends.

AI-generated overview from public web sources and license data. May be incomplete or outdated.

Food Safety Score

24 /100 · Poor

Calculated by Florida Food Scores from DBPR inspection data over the last 36 months. This is not an official government rating. How scores work

Latest DBPR inspection

Jul 14, 2026 Warning 23 violations

The Food Safety Score above reflects up to 4 weighted inspection cycles, not this single visit alone. View full history

Score breakdown

Based on 4 inspection cycles in the last 36 months.

Aug 6, 2026 — cycle score 12 (45% weight) · 6 high, 5 intermediate, 12 basic · Warning
Jun 29, 2026 — cycle score 16 (30% weight) · 13 high, 9 intermediate, 22 basic · Emergency Order Callback Time Extension
May 5, 2026 — cycle score 64 (15% weight) · 1 high, 4 intermediate, 12 basic · Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Aug 25, 2025 — cycle score 44 (10% weight) · 3 high, 4 intermediate, 10 basic · Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Score reflects an active emergency closure.

View full inspection history (10)

DBPR Inspection History

10 records from Florida DBPR. Tap a row to expand violation details.

What violations mean

Date	Type	Result	High	Int.	Basic	Total
Aug 6, 2026	Routine - Food	Warning Issued	6	5	12	23
Violations Found H · V01 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V02 Employee health policy No employee health policy or inadequate policy H · V03 ×3 Employee health reporting Employee not reporting symptoms of illness H · V05 Handwashing procedures Inadequate handwashing by food employees H · V08 ×4 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V10 ×2 Approved food source Food from unapproved or unknown source H · V12 Shell stock requirements Inadequate shell stock identification/records H · V14 ×2 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V16 Proper cooking temps Food not cooked to required minimum temperature H · V22 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods H · V23 Chemical properly stored Toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled H · V27 ×2 Correct procedures Required procedures for specialized processes not followed I · V29 Proper sewage disposal Improper sewage or waste water disposal I · V31 Clean multi-use utensils Multi-use utensils not properly cleaned I · V41 Toilet facilities Inadequate or improperly maintained toilet facilities B · V46 No smoking signs Required no smoking signs not posted Class: Food Visit ID: 13751595 PDA Verified Type: Routine - Food
Jul 16, 2026 Callback	Complaint Full	Call Back - Complied	0	0	0	0
Violations Found B · V46 No smoking signs Required no smoking signs not posted Class: Food Visit ID: 13845362 PDA Verified Type: Complaint Full
Jul 16, 2026 Callback	Complaint Full	Call Back - Complied	0	0	0	0
No violation details recorded for this inspection. Class: Food Visit ID: 13708915 PDA Verified Type: Complaint Full
Jul 14, 2026	Complaint Full	Administrative complaint recommended	10	5	4	19
Violations Found H · V01 ×3 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V02 Employee health policy No employee health policy or inadequate policy H · V03 Employee health reporting Employee not reporting symptoms of illness H · V08 ×4 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V14 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V22 ×2 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods I · V31 ×2 Clean multi-use utensils Multi-use utensils not properly cleaned I · V33 Proper cooling equipment Inadequate cooling/cold holding equipment I · V35 Single-use items Single-use items improperly reused I · V41 ×2 Toilet facilities Inadequate or improperly maintained toilet facilities B · V46 No smoking signs Required no smoking signs not posted B · V53 Outer openings protected Outer openings not properly protected Class: Food Visit ID: 13844827 PDA Verified Type: Complaint Full
Jun 29, 2026 Callback	Routine - Food	Emergency Order Callback Time Extension	0	3	3	6
Violations Found H · V01 ×2 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V14 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized I · V29 Proper sewage disposal Improper sewage or waste water disposal I · V33 Proper cooling equipment Inadequate cooling/cold holding equipment B · V45 Floor maintenance Floors not properly maintained B · V46 No smoking signs Required no smoking signs not posted B · V53 Outer openings protected Outer openings not properly protected Class: Food Visit ID: 13723524 PDA Verified Type: Routine - Food
Jun 26, 2026	Routine - Food	Emergency order recommended	13	9	22	44
Violations Found H · V01 ×3 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V02 ×2 Employee health policy No employee health policy or inadequate policy H · V03 ×2 Employee health reporting Employee not reporting symptoms of illness H · V06 Handwashing facilities Inadequate handwashing facilities H · V08 ×4 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V09 No contamination Food contaminated by chemical, physical, or biological hazards H · V10 Approved food source Food from unapproved or unknown source H · V12 ×4 Shell stock requirements Inadequate shell stock identification/records H · V14 ×4 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V21 Time as control Time as a public health control not properly used H · V22 ×4 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods H · V23 ×2 Chemical properly stored Toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled H · V24 Toxic substance control Toxic substances improperly identified/stored/used H · V27 Correct procedures Required procedures for specialized processes not followed I · V29 ×3 Proper sewage disposal Improper sewage or waste water disposal I · V31 ×2 Clean multi-use utensils Multi-use utensils not properly cleaned I · V33 Proper cooling equipment Inadequate cooling/cold holding equipment I · V35 Single-use items Single-use items improperly reused I · V36 Proper ventilation Inadequate ventilation and lighting I · V40 Wiping cloths usage Improper use of wiping cloths I · V41 ×3 Toilet facilities Inadequate or improperly maintained toilet facilities B · V45 Floor maintenance Floors not properly maintained B · V46 No smoking signs Required no smoking signs not posted B · V53 Outer openings protected Outer openings not properly protected Class: Food Visit ID: 13723350 PDA Verified Type: Routine - Food
Jun 5, 2026 Callback	Complaint Full	Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended	3	3	9	15
Violations Found H · V01 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V02 Employee health policy No employee health policy or inadequate policy H · V03 Employee health reporting Employee not reporting symptoms of illness H · V08 ×2 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V14 ×3 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V21 Time as control Time as a public health control not properly used H · V22 ×2 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods H · V23 Chemical properly stored Toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled I · V29 Proper sewage disposal Improper sewage or waste water disposal I · V41 Toilet facilities Inadequate or improperly maintained toilet facilities B · V53 Outer openings protected Outer openings not properly protected Class: Food Visit ID: 13708339 PDA Verified Type: Complaint Full
Jun 4, 2026	Complaint Full	Warning Issued	7	10	18	35
Violations Found H · V01 ×4 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V02 ×2 Employee health policy No employee health policy or inadequate policy H · V03 ×2 Employee health reporting Employee not reporting symptoms of illness H · V08 ×5 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V10 ×2 Approved food source Food from unapproved or unknown source H · V12 Shell stock requirements Inadequate shell stock identification/records H · V14 ×3 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V21 Time as control Time as a public health control not properly used H · V22 ×2 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods H · V23 Chemical properly stored Toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled H · V24 Toxic substance control Toxic substances improperly identified/stored/used I · V29 Proper sewage disposal Improper sewage or waste water disposal I · V31 ×3 Clean multi-use utensils Multi-use utensils not properly cleaned I · V35 ×2 Single-use items Single-use items improperly reused I · V40 Wiping cloths usage Improper use of wiping cloths I · V41 ×2 Toilet facilities Inadequate or improperly maintained toilet facilities B · V50 Adequate lighting Inadequate lighting in food preparation/storage areas B · V53 Outer openings protected Outer openings not properly protected Class: Food Visit ID: 13705498 PDA Verified Type: Complaint Full
May 5, 2026	Routine - Food	Inspection Completed - No Further Action	1	4	12	17
Violations Found H · V01 ×2 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V08 ×2 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V12 ×2 Shell stock requirements Inadequate shell stock identification/records H · V14 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V21 ×2 Time as control Time as a public health control not properly used H · V22 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods H · V23 Chemical properly stored Toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled H · V24 Toxic substance control Toxic substances improperly identified/stored/used I · V31 Clean multi-use utensils Multi-use utensils not properly cleaned I · V33 ×3 Proper cooling equipment Inadequate cooling/cold holding equipment I · V35 Single-use items Single-use items improperly reused Class: Food Visit ID: 13503042 PDA Verified Type: Routine - Food
Aug 25, 2025	Routine - Food	Inspection Completed - No Further Action	3	4	10	17
Violations Found H · V01 ×2 Management awareness Person in charge not present or not performing duties H · V02 Employee health policy No employee health policy or inadequate policy H · V03 Employee health reporting Employee not reporting symptoms of illness H · V08 ×3 Proper hand/arm washing Improper hand and arm washing technique H · V10 Approved food source Food from unapproved or unknown source H · V12 ×2 Shell stock requirements Inadequate shell stock identification/records H · V14 Food contact surfaces Food contact surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized H · V16 Proper cooking temps Food not cooked to required minimum temperature H · V22 ×2 Consumer advisory No consumer advisory for raw/undercooked foods H · V23 Chemical properly stored Toxic chemicals improperly stored or labeled I · V31 Clean multi-use utensils Multi-use utensils not properly cleaned I · V35 Single-use items Single-use items improperly reused Class: Food Visit ID: 10907613 PDA Verified Type: Routine - Food

Emergency Closures

1 closure on record.

Closure Date	Reason	Reopen Date	Status
Jun 26, 2026	Fly activity	—	Currently Closed

License & Location

Location

Address: 1245 E FOWLER AVE
TAMPA, FL 33612
Seating: 247 seats
Phone: 8134358291
DBPR District: District 3 — Tampa (licenses expire February)
County (Region Code): Miami-Dade (code 13)

License

License Number: SEA3911556
License Status: Current (20)
Establishment Type: Seating Restaurant
Base Risk Level: Risk Level 2
License Expiry: Feb 1, 2027
Last Inspection: Jul 14, 2026

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What Florida restaurant violations mean · How food safety scores work