CHOP STIX CAFE
3500 SW 13 ST, Gainesville FL 32608 · 352 367 0003
Last inspected Aug 6, 2026 · 8 visits since October 2023
SEP 24
DEC 24
AUG 25
NOV 25
AUG 26
▼ IMPROVING
5 inspections trending up, 19 points better than where it started.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed the license expired on 6-1-2024. the license was paid for during the inspection.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
2 cases · $560
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5--2021031068 | Jun 25, 2021 | Aug 11, 2021 | $400 |
| 5--2015054987 | Dec 16, 2015 | Jan 8, 2016 | $160 |
Inspection history
8 visits, newest first
Aug 6, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 11 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate7 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 11 findingsThe state's own report →
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. On cookline: shell egg, 1 hour (65F - Cold Holding). Manager moved to ice bath to cool.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Prep reach-in cooler cutting board soiled with mold-like substances.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Handwashing sink next to sushi cooler contained a pan and food debris in the basin. Manager removed.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Spray bottle of sanitizer with no label on shelf next to three compartment sink. Manager labeled bottle.
Show the remaining 7 findings ▾
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. No-handle bowl used as scoop in corn starch. Manager discarded bowl.
Clean glasses, cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans not stored inverted or in a protected manner. Bowls in center of kitchen stored not inverted or protected.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee purses stored in contact with sauce containers. Manager moved purses.
Equipment in poor repair. Cutting board grooved. Jamb around walk-in freezer door damaged and exposing insulation.
Food stored on floor. Open jug of cooking oil on floor at woks. Container of broth on floor in walk-in freezer.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Prep reach-in cooler cutting boards soiled with food debris and mold-like substances.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth on cutting boards soiled with of reach-in cooler. Manager moved to sani-bucket.
Nov 12, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed : frozen packaged chicken in the kitchen hand wash sink; plate and cloth in the dish wash machine hand wash sink; a boba strainer in the boba area hand wash sink and a cloth in the hand wash sink. All items removed from each sink.
No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed : lack of a sign and soap at the bar hand wash sink. The soap was added.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed : in dry storage, jacket stored over bulk rice. The jacket was moved to the office.
Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Observed : single serve in the kitchen stored food contact side up. These were inverted.
Aug 26, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Observed : miso paste in the walk-in cooler not dated. A date was added.
Records/documents for required employee training do not contain all of the required information. Observed : lack of a trainers certified number on multiple certificates.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed : employee thermos on the prep table against the wall. The drink was moved below.
Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Observed : standing water on the floor under the kitchen hand wash sink.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed : the floor tiles are in disrepair in the dish wash machine area.
In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Observed : the ice scoop handle was touching ice.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Observed : the freezer by the bar, has dried debris on the back side of the handle. ALSO, the tea cup sealer is has dried splash up on it.
Feb 14, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Dec 13, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 8 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
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. Observed: prep staff chopping onions for storage, no gloves. Hands were washed and gloves were added.
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 and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. Observed: the sushi rice lacked a time mark. An adjusted sticker was added.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed: herbs in a colander draining in the kitchen hand wash sink. The colander was removed.
Required employee training expired for all employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. Observed: all certificates shown are expired.
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom. Observed: lack of a covered trash can in the employee restroom.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed: an employee insulated cup on the prep line table.
Floor tiles missing and/or in disrepair. Observed: damaged floor tiles in the dish wash machine area.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Observed: the bar hand wash sink lacks a sign.
Sep 6, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 6 violations recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority2 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Observed the license expired on 6-1-2024. the license was paid for during the inspection.
Raw fish cooked for immediate service not reaching a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds. Observed battered fish pulled from the fryer at 134°. This was placed back in the fryer to 178°.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed: soy milk in the wait station reach-in cooler, 54°. This was moved to the reach-in freezer. This had been left out during lunch. ALSO, fish roe at the sushi bar, 56°. Staff left this out. This was placed in the sushi reach-in freezer.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed: the white shroud in the ice maker is soiled.
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. Observed: some long term employees do not have a current certificate.
Interior of refrigerator or freezer in disrepair/has exposed insulation. Observed: exposed insulation inside the walk-in freezer at the door.
Jan 25, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority4 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 8 findings ▾
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. Observed: bare hand used to add plant food to a bowl of soup. A utensil was added to the vegetable bowl for future use.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed soda nozzles with buildup.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed: a red scrub pad and spoon in the hand wash sinks.
No soap provided at handwash sink. Observed lack of soap at the bar hand wash sink.
Records/documents for required employee training do not contain all of the required information. Observed: lack of trainers number. Number were added by Kristy.
Buildup of food debris/soil residue on equipment door handles. Observed: cook line reach-in cooler handles have accumulation of dried food debris.
Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured. Observed: 4 tanks by the bar and 1 tank in the storage room, not secured.
Equipment or utensils not designed or constructed in a durable manner. Observed: the white upright reach-in freezer has a torn gasket.
Oct 3, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority2 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Observed: the coke nozzle with an accumulation of foreign substance.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Observed lack of paper towels at the back kitchen hand wash sink. Paper towels were added.
Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Observed: the door for the Employee restroom does not self close.
Equipment in poor repair. Observed: the gasket for the white upright reach-in freezer is compromised.
Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer. Observed: a bus pan of frozen water below the condenser pan in the walk-in freezer. The pan was emptied and replaced. No warmth or heat was noted on the heat tape for the drain, nor for the walk-in freezer door, which has an accumulation of ice.
This record follows the licence, not the owner. Restaurants change hands and the licence history normally does not, so an older entry may describe people who no longer run the place. Every inspection above links to the state's own report. Something wrong? Tell us.