China Garden in Polk County failed a routine health inspection on Jan. 21, 2026, receiving a warning from state inspectors and requiring a follow-up visit. The Chinese restaurant at 1527 Bartow Rd accumulated 10 violations during a review conducted by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.
What Happened During The Inspection
State records showed that the inspector documented one high-priority, four intermediate, and five basic violations at the establishment in Lakeland. The strip-mall eatery, which holds a 4.3-star rating from 410 Google reviews, serves standard Chinese dishes, including fried rice and noodles, in the Grove Park Shopping Plaza.
The high-priority violation involved nonfood-grade bags being used in direct contact with food. Health inspectors found bags of cooked chicken stored improperly in the walk-in freezer, which poses potential contamination risks…