EMPIRE BUFFET
5403 W COLONIAL DR, Orlando FL 32808
Last inspected Mar 30, 2026 · 7 visits since August 2025
AUG 25
OCT 25
DEC 25
DEC 25
MAR 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and F. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Live, small flying insects found 4 flying through back kitchen area.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Mar 30, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate7 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 8 findingsThe state's own report →
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Cutting boards stained with food debris on prep tables on cook line and in prep area.
Covered waste receptacle not provided in women's bathroom.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee removed personal food from shelf with restaurant food in walk in cooler.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Employee removed jacket and cell phone from dry storage shelf.
Show the remaining 4 findings ▾
Food stored on floor. Employee removed box of oil from floor on cook line. Employee removed bucket of soy sauce in walk in cooler.
In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Employee removed towel from underneath cutting board on cook line.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee removed drink in reach in cooler on cook line.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Employee removed towels on prep table in prep area.
Dec 29, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Dec 5, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Oct 28, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedComplaint Investigation
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
7 High priority4 Intermediate19 Basic
Show 30 findings ▾
Container of medicine improperly stored. Aspirin stored over cook line make table. Manager removed items.
Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 2 cans oyster sauce Bamboo
Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Operator call distributor for letter and printed it out.
Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Can of raid. Manager removed the insecticide.
Time/temperature control for safety food controlled by time and required to be marked with the use by time is not marked and the required time of disposal cannot be determined. See stop sale. Sushi rice from yesterday. Using time plan of 4 hours.
Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control not discarded at the end of the 4-hour/6-hour period. See stop sale. Sushi rice from yesterday
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. rice (79F - Hot Holding). From yesterday.
Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Manager added the notation on the sushi rolls.
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Quarantine strips for triple sink.
Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Staff added sign.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Variety of meats thawed in reach in cooler on the front counter blocked. Educated staff..
Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Women's restroom. Door for men's left open. Manager closed the door.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Used to scoop sugar. Manager removed bowl
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Multiple drinks throughout cook line. Manager discarded drinks.
Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook on cook line. Staff added beared guard.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Educated management. Turned plastic containers on the side.
Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Throughout the cook line and under triple sink on front counter.
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Display plate at sushi bar.
Food stored on floor. All foods in walk in freezer. Foods on cook line, case of oil and crawfish.
In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Under round cutting board.
Light not functioning. Hood
No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Reach in prep table on the front counter blocked. Cook added thermometer.
Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Avocado, oranges.
Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Jug Old produce box with cut cabbage. Manager asked staff to remove the cabbage from the boxes and rewash.
Salad bar/buffet plates/bowls not properly protected or inverted to prevent contamination. Plates not inverted at buffet. Manager turned them over.
Stored food not covered. Multiple foods in walk-in cooler and freezer.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Shrimp thawing, in standing water. Staff turned on water to drain.
Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Old fryers stored in the employee's restroom.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On front counter blocked.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Gray bins stored under prep table with white substance.
Oct 27, 2025Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 34 recorded, 8 high priority.
8 High priority7 Intermediate19 Basic
Show 34 findings ▾
Container of medicine improperly stored. Aspirin stored over cook line make table. Manager removed items.
Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. 2 cans oyster sauce Bamboo
Live, small flying insects found 4 flying through back kitchen area.
Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Operator call distributor for letter and printed it out.
Pesticide/insecticide labeled for household use only present in establishment. Can of raid. Manager removed the insecticide.
Time/temperature control for safety food controlled by time and required to be marked with the use by time is not marked and the required time of disposal cannot be determined. See stop sale. Sushi rice from yesterday. Using time plan of 4 hours.
Time/temperature control for safety food held using time as a public health control not discarded at the end of the 4-hour/6-hour period. See stop sale. Sushi rice from yesterday
Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. rice (79F - Hot Holding). From yesterday.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Sink on front counter blocked with speaker. Staff removed it.
Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. Manager added the notation on the sushi rolls.
No chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths. Quarantine strips for triple sink.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Using on buffet area and sushi rice. Operator was provided a plan.
Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. Staff added sign.
Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened/prepared, frozen and then thawed and held at refrigeration temperature not properly date marked. Variety of meats thawed in reach in cooler on the front counter blocked. Educated staff..
Soap dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense soap. 5 hand sinks in the kitchen 2 sinks in the employee restroom. Only 2 sinks with soap located on front service counter had soap. Operator provided small hand dispensers.
Bathroom located inside establishment not completely enclosed with tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Women's restroom. Door for men's left open. Manager closed the door.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Used to scoop sugar. Manager removed bowl
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Multiple drinks throughout cook line. Manager discarded drinks.
Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cook on cook line. Staff added beared guard.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Educated management. Turned plastic containers on the side.
Floor area(s) covered with standing water. Throughout the cook line and under triple sink on front counter.
Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Display plate at sushi bar.
Food stored on floor. All foods in walk in freezer. Foods on cook line, case of oil and crawfish.
In-use wet wiping cloth/towel used under cutting board. Under round cutting board.
Light not functioning. Hood
No conspicuously located ambient air temperature thermometer in holding unit. Reach in prep table on the front counter blocked. Cook added thermometer.
Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Avocado, oranges.
Reuse of single-service or single-use articles. Jug Old produce box with cut cabbage. Manager asked staff to remove the cabbage from the boxes and rewash.
Salad bar/buffet plates/bowls not properly protected or inverted to prevent contamination. Plates not inverted at buffet. Manager turned them over.
Stored food not covered. Multiple foods in walk-in cooler and freezer.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Shrimp thawing, in standing water. Staff turned on water to drain.
Unnecessary items/unused equipment on the premises. Old fryers stored in the employee's restroom.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On front counter blocked.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Gray bins stored under prep table with white substance.
Aug 8, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedLicensing Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside.
Aug 7, 2025Warning IssuedLicensing Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 4 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority0 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Unable to tease
Self-service salad bar/buffet lacking adequate sneezeguards or other proper protection from contamination.
Ceiling not smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable in food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas. Waiters area.
Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside.
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.