Knox County Health Department inspects Knoxville restaurants and scores each visit out of 100. Look up any score in the Tennessee health inspection database.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from the Knox County Health Department’s Food Protection page and Environmental Health division, and from the Tennessee Department of Health’s inspection search. Inspection scores are public records with legal weight; we report them as the agency recorded them.
Restaurants in Knoxville and the rest of Knox County are inspected by the Knox County Health Department’s Food Protection program, which issues food service permits once an establishment meets the Tennessee Department of Health’s food service laws and rules. Every inspection is scored out of 100, and every score is public. Look up any restaurant in the Tennessee health inspection database.
Who to call
- Restaurant complaints and food safety questions: Knox County Health Department Food Protection, 865-215-5200 ext. 2, environmental@knoxcounty.org
- Grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 615-837-5193
- Suspected food poisoning: see a doctor, then call the health department at 865-215-5200 so it can investigate
- Health department main line: 865-215-5555
How to look up a score
- Open the Tennessee inspection search, linked from the county health department as “Search Health Scores.”
- Type the restaurant’s name, and add “Knoxville” to narrow the results.
- Open an inspection to see its date, type (routine or follow-up), score and every violation the inspector wrote down, with the inspector’s notes.
How the scores work
- Out of 100. An inspection starts at 100 and the inspector deducts points for each violation. 100 means no deductions on that visit.
- One visit only. A score shows what the inspector saw on that day. It is not a rating of the food, and it is not a ranking against other restaurants.
- Routine and follow-up. The report says which kind of inspection it was. Where a follow-up inspection exists, read it alongside the first score.
- Corrected on site. Inspectors often note violations that were fixed during the visit. The report still lists them.
What the county inspects
Besides restaurants, the Knox County Health Department’s Environmental Health division permits and inspects:
- Swimming pools
- Hotels
- Tattoo and piercing studios
- Schools and child care centers
The division also runs online food safety training and certification for food service workers.
Our method
When Knoxville Local reports inspection results, we:
- Give the score exactly as the department recorded it, with the date and the type of inspection.
- Link the department’s own report for every result we mention.
- Describe violations in the inspector’s words, without adding to them.
- Include a follow-up score when one exists, and the business’s response when it gives one.
- Never describe a business as “dirty,” “unsafe” or “failing” on our own judgment.
Owners who believe a score is wrong should contact the health department first; we update our pages when the department’s record changes.
What this means for you
- Before you eat somewhere new, look up its last two inspections, not just the latest score.
- If you get sick after eating out, report it to the health department.
Related: new businesses in Knoxville, things to do this month and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
Who inspects restaurants in Knoxville?
The Knox County Health Department’s Food Protection program inspects and permits restaurants and other food service establishments in Knoxville and Knox County, under rules set by the Tennessee Department of Health.
How do I look up a restaurant’s health score in Knoxville?
Search the restaurant’s name in the Tennessee health inspection database at inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/tennessee, which the Knox County Health Department links as its Search Health Scores tool.
How do I report a restaurant to the Knox County Health Department?
Call the Food Protection program at 865-215-5200, extension 2, or email environmental@knoxcounty.org. Grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores are inspected by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 615-837-5193.
What does a restaurant inspection score mean?
Each inspection is scored out of 100, with points taken off for each violation found. A score describes conditions on the day of that visit only; it is not a ranking.
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