Roaches and flies, sanitation fails shut down popular Pembroke Pines buffet
Halloween has come and gone, but creepy crawlers were still present at a popular Pembroke Pines eatery forced to temporarily close after failing an early November inspection, according to Department of Business and Professional Regulation records.
Chow Time Grill and Buffet — located at 12375 Pembroke Road — raked in 16 violations, including three high-priority offenses that DBPR considers able to “contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury,” during a Nov. 3 assessment that led to its doors being shut.
According to DBPR’s site, the division only doles out “emergency closures” when an establishment’s violations “pose an elevated risk to the health, safety or welfare of the public.”
Inspectors visited the restaurant — which boasts 4.3 stars and over 6,000 reviews on Google — following a complaint received by the division.
They reported seeing six live flies landing on the walls and “clean food preparation tables” as well as seven live roaches crawling near an oven, the dishwashing area and a prep station.
Four dead roaches were found under equipment on the cook line.
Imitation crab was also stored above 41 degrees Fahrenheit, the cold holding temperature needed to prevent bacteria growth and keep food safe to eat, and a container of cooked chicken had no time marking to indicate its “best by” date.
When inspectors pointed out the repeat offenses, Chow Time’s operator was quick to chill the seafood by placing ice packs on top and properly date when the chicken had been cooked.
Old food debris, dust and grease buildup were seen crowding most of the buffet’s surfaces, including the kitchen floor, cooking equipment and a reach-in cooler.
One inspector wrote that a “heavy mold-like substance” lined air conditioning vents and ceiling tiles.
Though less severe, the buffet was also found guilty of basic violations including storing food on the floor or without a lid and using an old, single-use jug to dispense rice.
A follow-up inspection the next day found that Chow Time “Met Inspection Standards” and was allowed to reopen, nearly acing its assessment save for one violation: grease buildup on its cooking equipment.
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 9:25 AM.
