ZEN JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI BISTRO
11394 US HWY 98 W, Miramar Beach FL 32550
Last inspected Mar 18, 2026 · 11 visits since October 2023
□ Not on the state's active licence list
This licence isn't in DBPR's current active file, which usually means the business has closed, been sold, or let the licence lapse. Everything below belongs to this licence, not to whoever may be trading here now. The history stays public because it is a public record.
OCT 24
JAN 25
AUG 25
AUG 25
MAR 26
▼ IMPROVING
5 inspections trending up, 12 points better than where it started.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.6-1-25.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Inspection history
11 visits, newest first
Mar 18, 2026Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Met inspection standards. 8 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority5 Intermediate3 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 8 findingsThe state's own report →
Chemical test kit not used to ensure proper sanitization of equipment and utensils when using a chemical sanitizer. Sani bucket- Chlorine 0 ppm.
Equipment drain line draining into 2 handwash sinks at sushi bar. Employee removed hoses from sinks.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times in ware wash location. Sink blocked with food cart holding bus tubs. Employee removed cart from sink.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Both hand wash sinks at sushi bar used to hold Sani bucket. Employee removed buckets from sinks.
Show the remaining 4 findings ▾
Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Employee replaced battery in dispenser.
3 Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured at front line. Manager secured tanks with chain.
Ice buildup in walk-in freezer at door threshold and on floor and racks.
Open dumpster lid.
Aug 18, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
2 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. 2 pest strips hanging over prep table in back of kitchen, 1 pest strip hanging over rice in cooker and 2 pest strips hanging over make bar on cook line. Employees removed pest strips from kitchen.
Raw animal food not separated from ready-to-eat food during preparation. Shell eggs stored over lettuce in walk in cooler.
Stored food not covered. Wontons stored in upright freeze not covered.
Aug 8, 2025Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedComplaint Investigation
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 0 violations recorded.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Aug 6, 2025Call Back - Extension given, pendingComplaint Investigation
A return visit. The problems were not fixed yet and the kitchen was given more time.
1 High priority0 Intermediate3 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Grease interceptor/trap overflowing down exterior wall onto ground.
Garbage not placed in a receptacle for storage until pick up to make the garbage inaccessible to insects and rodents. Multiple bags of trash stored in front of dumpster.
Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster.
Grease on the ground and/or pad around grease receptacle.
Aug 5, 2025Warning IssuedComplaint Investigation
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 18 recorded, 2 high priority.
2 High priority3 Intermediate13 Basic
Show 18 findings ▾
Grease interceptor/trap overflowing down exterior wall onto ground.
Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license.6-1-25.
Equipment drain line draining into handwash sink at sushi bar.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. 2 of the 3 hand wash sinks at sushi bar are being used to hold sanitizer buckets. Pot with water stored in sink in kitchen by make bar.
No soap provided at 1 of the handwash sinks at sushi bar.
Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.
Ceiling tile missing in ware washing area under leak from ceiling and near hood vent and grill on cook line.
Dumpster overflowing garbage.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee cooking their personal food in kitchen while open and operating.
Floor area(s) covered with standing water under ceiling leak in ware washing area.
Garbage not placed in a receptacle for storage until pick up to make the garbage inaccessible to insects and rodents. Multiple bags of trash stored in front of dumpster.
Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster.
Grease on the ground and/or pad around grease receptacle.
Grease recycling container overflowing onto ground.
No cleaning access to grease trap. Blocked with bagged trash.
Stored food not covered. Cheese wontons stored in upright freezer not covered.
Water draining onto floor surface from ceiling in ware washing area.
Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean And in use at sushi bar.
Jan 16, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jan 16, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 16 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority3 Intermediate12 Basic
Show 16 findings ▾
Nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food. Asparagus stored in a non food grade bag in walk in cooler.
No measuring device available for measuring utensil surface temperature when using hot water as sanitizer in a dishmachine.
No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink in ware washing area and in sushi bar at middle sink.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Held on time- egg wash 68F, cooked noodles 66F ( 10:30-2:30 ). Sushi rice (10:30-2:30). Provided written procedure form to establishment.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl stored in rice with no handle.
Cloth used as a food-contact surface under sugar and tea urns in wait station.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on food prep table at sushi bar.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee food stored in upright glass cooler next to consumer food.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice in wait station.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs stored on oven handle.
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink stored in sushi bar reach in cooler.
Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Eel 28F thawing on prep table at sushi bar with no running water,
Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. Wet Mop stored in mop bucket with no water.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Wet soiled cloth stored on food contact surface in wait station.
Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. Wet soiled cloth stored on cutting board at sushi bar and on lip of flat top in kitchen.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Salmon stored in walk in cooler freezer prepped and wrapped not labeled.
Dec 16, 2024Call Back - Extension given, pendingRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems were not fixed yet and the kitchen was given more time.
0 High priority1 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
Oct 14, 2024Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 15 recorded.
0 High priority5 Intermediate10 Basic
Show 15 findings ▾
No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/. Observed 12 employees working, no certified manager on site.
No measuring device available for measuring utensil surface temperature when using hot water as sanitizer in a dishmachine.
No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233.
No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Held on time- breaded fries shrimp 86F, breaded fried soft shell crab 83F, coconut shrimp 111F (11:00-3:00). Provided establishment with written procedures form to hold food on time.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Plastic bowl with no handle stored in rice.
Cloth used as a food-contact surface under sushi toppings at sushi bar and under sugar in wait station.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Cell phone stored on microwave shelf.
Equipment in poor repair. Glass door at sushi bar is missing and another is cracked.
Exterior garage pull down door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside.
Food stored on floor. Mushrooms and shrimp stored in walk in cooler, bagged chicken stored in walk in freezer stored on floors.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. 3 sets of tongs hanging from oven handle on cook line.
Stored food not covered. Cooked pork and mixed vegetables stored in walk in cooler not covered.
Wet wiping cloths used for occasional spills on equipment food- and nonfood-contact surfaces not clean. 2 soiled wet cloths stored on cutting boards at sushi bar.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Calamari and lobster stored in upright freezer is portioned and not labeled. Salmon portioned and bags of chicken stored in walk in freezer not labeled.
Feb 14, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 7 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority2 Intermediate4 Basic
Show 7 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Shell eggs stored over avocados and cabbage in walk in cooler.
Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times on cook line. Sink blocked with trash can.
No written procedures available for use of time as a public health control to hold time/temperature control for safety food. Held on time- sushi bar- sushi rice (11:30-3:30). Breading station- breaded shrimp 66F, breaded crab 64F, shrimp ball 69F, shrimp dumpling 67F ( 11:30-3:30). Printed form for operator, he filled out form and hung in office.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl stored in sauce in walk in cooler and bowl stored in rice in dry storage.
Food stored on floor. Oil stored on floor near ice machine. Ramen soup stored on floor in walk in cooler. Case of noodles stored on floor in walk in freezer. Operator placed noodles on shelf in walk in freezer.
Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Operator removed scoop from ice and sent to warehouse washing area.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. 3 sinks at sushi bar missing hand wash sign. 1 sink in kitchen missing hand wash sign.
Oct 31, 2023Inspection Completed - No Further ActionLicensing Inspection
Nothing was found. The inspector recorded no violations at all.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
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.