Hibachi Super Buffet, located at 1352 N. Main St., Crossville, TN 38555, underwent a routine food service inspection by the Tennessee Department of Health on June 25, 2025, receiving a score of 74 this Wednesday, indicating several critical violations. For reference, any score below a 70 is considered a failing score.

The inspection history from August 2022 to June 2025 shows a range of scores, with routine inspections yielding scores as low as 67 (December 5, 2024) and as high as 94 in a follow-up inspection (February 7, 2024), alongside other scores fluctuating between 73 and 92.

During the most recent inspection, significant issues included a lack of managerial control, leading to multiple critical violations. Food safety concerns involved brown cabbage and lettuce with black growth in the walk-in cooler, resulting in 10 pounds embargoed, and raw steak stored over ready-to-eat eggs, which was corrected on-site. The walk-in cooler was malfunctioning at 80°F, causing raw eggs to reach 78°F, leading to 20 pounds embargoed.

Other violations included improper thawing of raw chicken at room temperature, undated boiled eggs in the prep cooler (corrected by the PIC), an open fish breading bag stored on the floor, utensils in the sushi area stored in standing water, a heavily stained and pitted cutting board, a walk-in cooler in disrepair, soiled equipment, damaged floor tiles, an uncleanable ceiling, and a broken light cover in the grill area.

Despite these issues, the establishment complied with regulations on management awareness, handwashing, food sourcing, cooking/reheating procedures, hot holding, toxic substance storage, and the Tennessee Non-Smoker Protection Act, with no tobacco products offered for sale.

Those interested in reading the full report can do so here: https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/tennessee/inspection/?inspectionID=4065774F-1730-4601-8834-523A8083343F