Inspection Report

Florida DBPR Inspection Report

CHINA LEE BUFFET

3933 E SILVER SPRINGS BLVD · OCALA · Marion County · FL 34470

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Inspection Summary

Inspection dateMarch 9, 2026
Inspection typeRoutine – Food
Inspection classFood
DBPR dispositionAdministrative complaint recommended
Resultfollow_up_required
Inspection number3616219
Visit number1
Inspection Visit ID10906341
DBPR license5203191

Violation Summary

Counts reported for this inspection visit.

Full inspector observations available
8 High Priority2 Intermediate12 Basic0 Critical0 Non-Critical22 Total

All DBPR Inspector Observations

22 full violation description(s) documented by the inspector during this visit.

High Priority 8

#13High Priority12A-27-4

High Priority – Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. At the hibachi area, make employee cracked eggs and continue cooking and touching cleaned plates, inspector addressed situation and instructed to stop and wash hands. **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Repeat ViolationAdmin Complaint
#14High Priority09-01-4

High Priority – Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands – food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. At the prep area, male employee cutting vegetables with bare hands, Manager instructed to stop wash hands and use gloves. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat ViolationAdmin Complaint
#15High Priority14-31-5

High Priority – Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. At the sushi bar area, wasabi stored in direct contact with a thank you bag.

#16High Priority08A-05-6

High Priority – Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Reach-in cooler at the kitchen entrance, raw beef stored above Mac and cheese, manager moved. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat ViolationAdmin Complaint
#17High Priority08A-17-6

High Priority – Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature when stored in a freezer – not all products commercially packaged. In walk-in freezer, raw ground beef stored above raw pork, also raw chicken stored above raw beef.

#18High Priority03A-02-5

High Priority – Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At the hibachi area (bar), sprouts 58F, white rice 62F, per manager items pulled out of fridge at 11:00am, manager add to time and will be discarded at 3:00pm. At the cook line-prep area, egg flan 48F, employee moved to freezer, temperature dropped to 41F. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Corrective Action TakenRepeat ViolationAdmin Complaint
#19High Priority03F-02-5

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. At the cook line, raw chicken, cooked chicken and egg rolls no time marking, Manager set the time. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat ViolationAdmin Complaint
#20High Priority41-10-4

High Priority – Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottles with degreasers stored right next to cook and raw chicken at the cook line, also spray bottles of concentrated bleach stored above make tables throughout the at the cook line. Medicine above prep table, Manager moved all chemicals. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Admin Complaint**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat ViolationAdmin Complaint

Intermediate 2

#21Intermediate53B-14-5

Intermediate – Required employee training expired for some employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Twelve employee certifications expired.

#22Intermediate31B-06-4

Intermediate – Soap dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense soap. Handwash sink at the end of the cook line, manager change batteries. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat Violation

Basic 12

#1Basic22-20-5

Basic – Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Ice machine at the server area with mold like substance.

#2Basic14-01-5

Basic – Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl no handle inside rice cooker, manager removed the bowl. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat Violation
#3Basic12B-07-4

Basic – Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Multiple employee drinks above prep and make tables. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#4Basic40-06-5

Basic – Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Multiple employee personal items (cellphones, keys jackets cups) stored above prep and make tables throughout the kitchen.

#5Basic24-08-4

Basic – Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried – wet nesting. Stacked metal containers at the cook line, also at the server area, cups stored wet. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#6Basic08B-38-4

Basic – Food stored on floor. At the cook line, case with mussels on floor underneath wok, manager moved off the floor, also multiple oil jugs on floor. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#7Basic23-03-4

Basic – Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Exterior of reach-in coolers and gaskets soiled with food residue. Also exterior of cooking equipment with grease build up. Walk-in cooler shelves soiled with food residue. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#8Basic16-48-4

Basic – Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Cleaned stacked containers at the cook line with standing dirty water due to accumulation of food residue, Manager over all to dish machine. **Corrected On-Site**

Corrected On-Site
#9Basic22-16-4

Basic – Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Reach-in coolers at the cook line and server area soiled with food residue and mold like substance on shelves. **Repeat Violation**

Repeat Violation
#10Basic08B-17-4

Basic – Unwashed fruits/vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food. In walk-in cooler case of Hot peppers stored above container with cut onions and cut peppers.

#11Basic21-12-4

Basic – Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Multiple wet wiping cloth on prep and make tables at the kitchen area.

#12Basic21-38-4

Basic – Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Multiple sanitizer buckets stored directly on floor, manager moved all. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**

Corrected On-SiteRepeat Violation

Inspector observations synchronized from DBPR on August 13, 2026 7:10 PM.

Violation category totals
Category 4 · Facilities maintain proper food temperature
2 observation(s)
Category 9 · Bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food / AOP
4 observation(s)
Category 10 · In-use food dispensing utensils
1 observation(s)
Category 13 · Clothing, hair restraints, jewelry and fingernails
2 observation(s)
Category 15 · No longer used
2 observation(s)
Category 17 · No longer used
1 observation(s)
Category 22 · Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
2 observation(s)
Category 23 · Non-food-contact surfaces clean
2 observation(s)
Category 24 · Storage/handling of clean equipment and utensils
1 observation(s)
Category 25 · Single-service and single-use items
1 observation(s)
Category 32 · Bathrooms
1 observation(s)
Category 41 · Chemicals and toxic substances
1 observation(s)
Category 42 · Cleaning and maintenance equipment
1 observation(s)
Category 54 · Florida Clean Indoor Air Act
1 observation(s)

Inspection records and inspector observations reflect conditions documented by DBPR at the time of the inspection and may not reflect current conditions.