Alachua County's Mr Han's Restaurant in Gainesville, FL, cited for 19 violations, temporarily closed

Mr. Han's RestaurantPhoto byAnn Larkins / Google Reviews

A popular Chinese restaurant in Gainesville, Florida, with a long history of health code violations, once again faced emergency closure after state inspectors discovered a rodent infestation and issued a temporary shutdown order during a recent inspection that found 19 total violations.

Following a full complaint, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation reviewed Mr Han's Restaurant, located at 6944 NW 10th Pl, in Alachua County, on May 1st, 2024.

The inspection found 3 high-priority, 3 intermediate, and 13 basic violations that posed significant public health risks, resulting in the emergency order to temporarily close the facility on the same day.

Previous Closures:

This is not the first time Mr Han's Restaurant has faced closure. Records show the establishment has a history of emergency orders for temporary closures, with similar incidents occurring in March 2024, May 2023, January 2023, May 2022, December 2020, and October 2020.

High Priority Violations:

The inspection uncovered several high-priority violations, prompting immediate action. Inspectors found evidence of rodent activity, with droppings discovered in various locations, including the dry storage closet and under prep tables. This is a repeat violation, indicating ongoing issues with pest control (DBPR inspection results).

Inspectors also noted improper storage of toxic substances, with rodent bait devices and chemical spray bottles placed near clean utensils and containers, posing a significant health risk.

Intermediate Violations:

The inspection also identified intermediate violations, such as food-contact surfaces with food debris and mold-like substances, handwash sinks blocked by various items, and improperly date-marked ready-to-eat foods. These issues further contributed to the decision to temporarily close the establishment.

Basic Violations:

Basic violations included a range of cleanliness and food storage issues. Inspectors observed a container without a handle being used to dispense food, heavily grooved cutting boards, missing drain covers, and food stored directly on the floor.

Additionally, there were problems with employee beverage containers on food prep tables, debris accumulation under cooking equipment, and utensils stored in standing water at unsafe temperatures.

In a third follow-up on May 9th, an administrative complaint was recommended due to the lack of compliance on one remaining violation related to improper cold holding of time/temperature control for safety foods.

Despite its 4.0 star Google rating from 373 reviews, with some customers praising the food quality and portions, the restaurant's troubled history with health inspectors has been a persistent issue.

• High Priority Violations:
• • Rodent infestation
  • Temperature abuse of cold/hot foods
  • Improper toxic item storage near food areas
• Intermediate Violations:
• • Soiled food-contact surfaces
  • Obstructed handwash sinks
  • Lack of date marking on prepared foods
• Basic Violations:
• • Improper food dispensing methods
  • Soiled equipment and surfaces
  • Food stored on floors
  • Uncovered/improperly thawed foods
  • Open dumpster lid
  • Other sanitation lapses

NOTE: Please note that an inspection report, per the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, provides a snapshot of the conditions observed during the inspection. It's essential to recognize that the number of violations noted during an assessment may vary on different days, and a single review may only partially represent the all-around, long-term conditions at the establishment.