"Authentic Chinese Restaurant," FL's Beijing House, Shut Down Via State Inspection - 24 Violations

Photo byDavid Pursehouse from Kawasaki, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

There is no shortage of Asian restaurants in Florida, and many of them are inexpensive to boot. However, one Asian Restaurant touted as "authentic" was recently shut down with 24 violations.

About Beijing House: This eatery has been called "The Authentic Chinese Restaurant Tampa is Looking For" by That's So Tampa.

The owners cultivated their unique style by cooking for Asian students at USF, who encouraged them to open their own restaurant. The owners are perfectionists and import spices from China and make every dish homemade.

Reviewers notice the attention to detail, giving the restaurant 4.3 out of 5 stars. A typical good review comes from a reviewer named Haofeng , who wrote, in part:

"I recently dined at this charming restaurant with my family and was blown away by the experience. The food was exquisite, earning a solid 5/5. Every dish was crafted with care and bursting with flavor. The cozy atmosphere made me feel right at home, perfect for a family outing or a romantic dinner..."

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on May 20, 2024. At that time, 24 violations were found.

Basic violations came from things like the observation of dead roaches, an employee not wearing a hairnet, unwashed cucumbers stored with prepared cabbage, and outer openings "not being protected from vermin."

Examples of intermediate violations came from things like no running water at the mop sink and the handwashing sink being used for things other than handwashing.

High-priority violations came for things like the observation of live flies, live roaches, roach excrement, raw chicken in the same bin as raw fish, and a stop-sale order due to food not being in "wholesome, sound, condition."

Because of some of the above violations, the restaurant temporarily closed. At a follow-up inspection on May 21, 2024, only four basic violations remained so the restaurant was able to reopen.

This is the first closure for this restaurant, although follow-up inspections have been required in the past.

Please note that an inspection is just one glimpse in time and not necessarily how a restaurant conducts itself every day.