HIBACHI EXPRESS
41260 US HWY 19 N, Tarpon Springs FL 34689 · 727-940-8088
Last inspected Jul 24, 2026 · 7 visits since August 2023
FEB 24
AUG 24
JAN 25
JUL 25
JUL 26
≈ ERRATIC
5 inspections, swinging between A and C. Consistency is the problem here, not any single visit.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 02/01/2024
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
1 case · $200
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3--2022006160 | Jan 4, 2022 | Mar 2, 2022 | $200 |
Inspection history
7 visits, newest first
Jul 24, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 3 findings
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee beverages and personal on top of glass door coolers
Nonfood-contact equipment exposed to splash/spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Dewalt Power tool used for stirring sauce.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On cutting board at sushi prep area, moved to bucket
Aug 11, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 28, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 6 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 6 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. 10 ppm after 3 cycles.
Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Cook left kitchen, dropped of dirty dishes, rinsed hands for 4 seconds then went back into kitchen, took bowl out of reach in cooler, manager asked cook to wash hands properly.
Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. In walk in cooler - unwashed tomatoes, avocado, mushrooms over cut onions, cut leafy greens. Operator moved dirty produce to bottom
Abrasives and detergents not removed during the rinse process. There is still soap in the well and inside the machine, chlorine 10 ppm
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. On sushi counter, operator Mede sanitizer bucket, 50 ppm, operator put towel in bucket
Wiping cloth chlorine sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Bucket on cook line 10 ppm, corrected to 50 ppm
Jan 2, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 5 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority0 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 5 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw shell eggs stored above carrots in walk-in cooler. Operator removed carrots from below eggs.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl without handle used as a scoop in cornstarch in dry-storage area.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee beverage stored in reach-in cooler at sushi bar not segregated from food being served to the public. Operator removed items.
Stored food not covered. Peeled onions in five container in walk-in cooler are not covered.
Unwrapped single-service utensils stored near soda machine in dining area not presented so that only the handles are touched.
Aug 22, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 6 violations recorded.
0 High priority1 Intermediate5 Basic
Show 6 findings ▾
Establishment advertised crab on menu/menu board but served imitation crab. To go menus and menu board state crab not imitation crab, on package and case states imitation crab sticks,
Accumulation of black mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. To go container used in rice container, container removed
Cloth used as a food-contact surface. Cloth towel on top of sushi rice, towel removed
Equipment in poor repair. Reach in cooler gaskets on cook line torn
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Reach in cooler gaskets soiled on cook line
Feb 5, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 4 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
3 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage - direct contact with food. Grey trash cans used for cut lettuce and sauce in walk in cooler
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. Expired 02/01/2024
Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken above raw beef in reach in cooler on cook line
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Red cutting boards
Aug 8, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 12 violations recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority2 Intermediate8 Basic
Show 12 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken above cooked chicken in reach in cooler, raw chicken iced to bottom shelf
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Beef (48F - Cold Holding); shrimp (47F - Cold Holding) top rail of reach in cooler on cook line, manager added ice bags
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Scoop stored in hand sink by dish machine
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Scoop rinsed off in hand sink by dish machine
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Tuna still in original packaging in reach in cooler thawed, manager removed from packaging
Employee chewing gum while preparing food or while in a food prep/food storage/warewashing area. Cook chewing gum while cooking food, cook discarded gum
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee package of gum in reach in cooler on cook line above cooked chicken, gum removed
Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee preparing food with no hair restraint, employee put hat on
Equipment in poor repair. All reach in cooler gaskets torn Walk in cooler gasket torn
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. All cooler gaskets soiled
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Open bottle of drink in sushi cooler
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet wiping cloth on cutting board on reach in cooler on cook line
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.