Inspection Report

Business Name
Waba Grill

Business Address
555 N SCOTTSDALE RD TEMPE AZ 85288

Permit Number
FD-23-02910

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
6/30/2025

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
2

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 2

Description: Certified Food Protection Manager

Comments:

2-102.12(A) - Core: Certified Food Protection Manager. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these resources on our website. https://www.maricopa.gov/5114/Food-Restaurants Addl Notes: No Certified Food Protection Manager was available onsite during time of inspection. Informed PIC that a CFPM is required to be onsite during all hours of operation. PIC stated that the are in the process of obtaining their certification. A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) is required to be on the premises during all hours of operation. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Violation #: 10

Description: Adequate Handwashing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible

Comments:

6-301.12 - Priority Foundation: Hand Drying Provision. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing. Addl Notes: Observed no hand drying provisions available at the hand sink in the ware washing area. Informed PIC that the hand sink must have hand towels available at all times. PIC provided hand towels at time of inspection. Handwash sinks must be supplied with hot water of at least 100°F, soap and an approved hand drying provision at all times. Facilities must be maintained in a condition that promotes handwashing. PIC provided hand drying provision for handwash sink at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 16

Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-4-501.114 (A-E) - Priority: Manual and Mechanical Warewashing Equipment, Chemical Sanitization- Temperature, pH, Concentration and Hardness. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4574/AMC-Toolbox---Food-Contact-Surfaces.

Addl Notes: Observed pans and lids submerged in the sanitizer compartment of the three-comp with a 0ppm concentration. Upon testing the concentration coming from the dispensing system, the dispenser is dispensing 0ppm of quat. Informed PIC that the water needs to be drained, sink refilled, and they must hand dose the quat until the dispensing system is fixed and outputting an approved concentration (200-400ppm). Discussed with PIC how to hand dose and properly test quat concentration. PIC refilled the sink and filled the compartment with the proper concentration at time of inspection. All food contact surfaces were properly sanitized at time of inspection. Discussed the importance of monitoring sanitizer levels with PIC, especially when hand dosing. Instructed PIC to go over how to hand dose and test with the rest of the staff until it is fixed. Food-contact surfaces must be properly sanitized after washing and rinsing. Discussed the importance of proper sanitizer levels and proper monitoring of sanitizer levels. Food-contact surfaces were properly sanitized at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 21

Description: Proper Hot Holding Temperatures

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(1) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Hot Holding. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4614/AMC-Toolbox---Hot-Holding.

Addl Notes: Observed dumplings, cooked cabbage, and cooked broccoli and carrots in the hot wells with internal temperatures ranging 118*F-125*F. Employee informed that these foods had been in the unit for an hour. The water in the water table was 126*F. PIC turned up the water temperature at time of inspection. PIC voluntarily discarded the cabbage and dumplings at time of inspection. PIC reheated the broccoli and carrots to 165*F at time of inspection and placed them back in the unit. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 135°F or above. All TCS foods improperly hot held were reheated to 165°F at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 35

Description: Approved Thawing Methods Used

Comments:

3-501.13 - Core: Thawing Addl Notes: Observed a case of beef thawing on a rack in the back prep area at ambient temperature. PIC stated that they got a delivery today and need the beef to be thawed so that they can prep it. Informed PIC that frozen food cannot be thawed at room temperature and needs to be thawed under refrigeration or under cool running water. PIC placed the beef in the prep sink and thawed it under cool running water at time of inspection. All foods being thawed from frozen must be thawed in an approved manner. Foods must be thawed under refrigeration, under cold running water, or as part of the cooking process. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

No County legal action will result from this inspection.

"A" for Food Safety

Through our grading system, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides at-a-glance indications of how food establishments perform during food safety inspections. This system is designed to grade food establishments in terms of food safety requirements and provide recognition to those who choose to participate.

How does it work?

The issuance of grade cards to food establishments is based on voluntary participation. The person in charge, who is present during the inspection, will be asked whether they would like to participate in the Grading System. This will be decided prior to each inspection. If an establishment does not participate in the Grading System, Not Participating or NP will appear on the inspection report, and the inspection will still occur. If an establishment does participate, a grade of A, B, C, or D will be determined at the conclusion of the inspection using the Grading System chart below. Participating establishments will then be provided with a grade card that can be posted in the establishment. The status of the establishment’s grade will also appear on the Restaurant Ratings page of the department’s website.

How can I determine the grade?

The Grading System chart can be used to determine grades earned for establishments that do not participate. Grades are determined by the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations received at the time of inspection. Violation types are defined in general terms below.

Definitions

Priority Violation: Major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury (e.g. Food employees do not properly wash hands when required).
Priority Foundation Violation: Minor violation that does not directly contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illness but failure to correct this violation may lead to the occurrence of a priority violation. For example, hand washing soap and paper towels not available at hand wash sink (may lead directly to food employees not properly washing hands when required).
Core Violation: Minor violation that relates to general maintenance and sanitation (e.g. No sign reminding employees to wash hands).
Cutting Edge Program: All county food-related establishments can partner with Maricopa County to implement a proactive approach to reducing foodborne illness risk factors by implementing food safety systems that include policies, training, and verification processes. Partners enrolled in the Cutting Edge Program receive an A+ when an A is earned.

Grading System The matrix below is used to grade food inspections under the voluntary grading system.
Violation Category	Grade A	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade D	Grade D
Priority	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	1	2	2	2	more than 2	more than 3
Priority Foundation	0	1	2	3	4	0	1	2	5	3	4	0	1	2	more than 3	more than 0

Any legal action for a pattern of non-compliance or permit suspension results in a D.