A Chinese restaurant on Orange Blossom Trail that closed its doors in December after dozens of rat droppings were found, was forced to temporarily close its doors again last week after a health inspector found evidence of rodent activity.
China Hot Express, which is located at 4700 S Orange Blossom Trail, was forced to shut down temporarily on Wednesday, February 8 after a health inspector from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation cited 15 health code violations.
At least five of the violations were considered high priority, including the presence of rodent activity. During the inspection, at least two dozen rat droppings were found in different places around the restaurant.
Additionally, some of the restaurant’s pork was not properly sealed and separated from shrimp based upon minimum required cooking temperatures when stored in a freezer.
The restaurant was permitted to reopen on the same day after a second inspection yielded only 14 health care violations.
Less than two months ago, on December 9, the restaurant was forced to temporarily close after it was cited for 21 health code violations.
During that inspection, approximately 60 rat droppings were found around the restaurant, including 20 under a water heater and at least 30 on shelving next to a walk-in cooler. Additionally, the inspector found prepped broccoli placed in the same box that housed raw chicken.