Inspection Report
A Ma's Kitchen and Pho
1900 W CHANDLER BLVD CHANDLER AZ 85224
FD-23-06573
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Food Routine Inspection
1/13/2026
Not Participating
3
Re-inspection required
Violations
Violation #: 8
Description: Hands Clean and Properly Washed
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-2-301.14 - Priority: When to Wash. 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 an employee don and adjust a face mask with gloved hands before returning to prepare soup for service to customers. Discussed the importance of proper hand washing and when hand washing is required with the person-in-charge (PIC). Hands must be washed at any time contamination occurs and when changing tasks. Employee properly washed hands at handwash sink at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 15
Description: Food Separated and Protected
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-302.11 (A1-2) - Priority: Packaged and Unpackaged Food-Separation, Packaging, and Segregation; Protection from Cross Contamination. 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/4621/AMC-Toolbox---Cross-Contamination.
Addl Notes: Observed raw thinly sliced beef stored above raw shelled eggs and ready-to-eat noodles, peanut sauce, and cooked chicken in the glass door cooler. All raw animal proteins must be stored below ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and stored according to cooking temperature at all times to prevent cross contamination. PIC properly stored all raw animal proteins according to the final cooking temperature based on the cooking parameters in § 3-401.11 of the Food Code. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 16
Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized
Comments:
4-601.11(A) - Priority Foundation: Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils. 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 food debris on food processing equipment stored as cleaned including the back of the meat slicer blade guard, the blade of a non-NSF rotary veggie slicer, and the cutting and non-cutting portions of the non-NSF green onion slicer. All food-contact surfaces must be cleaned to sight and touch. PIC relocated all food-contact surfaces to warewashing area to be washed, rinsed, and sanitized at the time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 23
Description: Proper Date Marking and Disposition
Comments:
3-501.17 - Priority Foundation: Ready-To-Eat Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Date Marking. 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/4125/Food-SafetyOperator-Resources. Addl Notes: No date marking observed on TCS foods in the walk in and reach in coolers that had been prepared more than 24 hours prior including cooked beef, beef tendon, chicken, pork, meatballs, and cooked onion. Per PIC, the beef, onions tendon were prepared 1/12. PIC stated all other foods were previously prepared, frozen, and placed in the cooler last night. All RTE/TCS foods were properly date marked at the time of inspection. RTE/TCS foods requiring date marking must be date marked within 24 hours and sold or discarded after 7 days (including the day it was made as day 1). Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 24
Repeat Violation
Description: Time as a Public Health Control: Procedures and Records
Comments:
*Second consecutive repeat violation*
3-501.19 (A1, B2, C2-3) - Priority Foundation: Time as a Public Health Control; Documentation. 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/4125/Food-SafetyOperator-Resources. Addl Notes: No timestamp on TCS foods held on time as a control including rice noodles at 73*F, vermicelli noodles at 52*F, round rice noodles at 48*F. Per PIC, all noodles were removed at 8:30am and the clock on the register is used to monitor the time. Also observed fried spring rolls measuring 103-130*F held over the fryer. Per PIC, the spring rolls are frequently ordered and cooked twice in batches before serving. In the back kitchen, observed premade shrimp spring rolls, cut lettuce, cut cabbage, raw bean sprouts, cooked rice noodles, pork and beef that had been removed from the cooler at 9am. Observed the ingredients with internal temperatures ranging from 58-67*F when measured with a probe thermometer. No timestamp or discard time was observed recorded for any food held on TAC in the establishment. Establishment was unable to provide a time as a control policy. Must provide written time as a control procedures prior to re-inspection. All TCS foods being held under time as a control were properly time stamped at time of inspection. Time as a Public Health Control requires written procedures detailing process for Time as a Public Health Control and time-stamping for items actively held under Time as a Public Health Control. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 29
Description: Compliance with Variance, Specialized Process, Reduced Oxygen Packaging Criteria or HACCP plan
Comments:
3-502.11 - Priority Foundation: Variance Requirement. 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/3978/Food-Variances. Addl Notes: Observed ROP (reduced oxygen packaging) beef and pork in the glass door refrigerator and freezer. PIC stated they are no longer ROP sealing TCS foods but have some frozen foods which were still in ROP packaging. No date marks observed on any ROP sealed foods. PIC stated all foods were sealed more than 48 hours prior. All procedures in approved variance/HACCP plan must be conformed to at all times. A variance/HACCP must be obtained prior to conducting any specialized processes. Variance/HACCP applications are available through the customer portal "Permit Center" at https://maricopacountyaz-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home. Additional resources can be found at https://www.maricopa.gov/3978/Food-Variances. A re-inspection will be conducted on 1/23/2026 to ensure all ROP sealing has ceased or is in compliance with the 48 hour exemption. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.
Violation #: 33
Description: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment for Temperature Control
Comments:
3-501.15 (A) - Priority Foundation: Cooling Methods. 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/4617/AMC-Toolbox---Cooling. Addl Notes: Observed a plastic wrapped metal colander of cooling cooked chicken the PIC stated finished cooking 2 hours prior before air cooling and placing in the walk in cooler. Observed more than 12" of cooling chicken with internal temperatures ranging form 61*F on the outside at 91*F, internally. Also observed a tightly wrapped plastic container of cooling charred onions with internal temperatures ranging from 103-120*F, internally. Per PIC, the onions had been cooling for approximately 1 hour. TCS foods must be cooled in: uncovered/loosely covered, shallow containers less than 4 inches deep, in equipment designed to rapidly cool, by using an ice bath, by using ice as an ingredient, or another effective means. All TCS foods being cooled in deep containers were transferred to shallow containers to allow for rapid cooling. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 48
Description: Warewashing Facilities, Installed, Maintained, Used, Test Strips
Comments:
4-302.13 - Priority Foundation: Temperature Measuring Devices, Manual and Mechanical Warewashing. 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: Establishment has added a high temperature dishwasher but does not have an irreversible temperature measuring device (min/max thermometer) to verify sanitizing temperatures. Sanitizing using high temperature warewashing machines requires an irreversible measuring device to ensure food contact surfaces reach 160°F. Provide approved irreversible measuring device prior to re-inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.
Violation #: 51
Description: Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-5-203.14 - Priority: Backflow Prevention Device, When Required
Addl Notes: Observed an non-commercial boiling water dispenser for tea and coffee with a direct water connection and no backflow. Per PIC, the boiler was added approximately 2 months prior. All water connected, non-carbonated beverage dispensers must have an approved backflow device such as an inline dual check meeting ASSE 1022 standards. Since the boiler is not NSF or equivalent and a backflow is needed, the PIC disconnected the boiler at the time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Comments/Details
Due to the violations noted on this inspection report, County legal action may result from this inspection.
Upon inspection, a remodel has taken place which may require an application and plans to be submitted, and/or additional permits. Please submit an application, supporting documentation, and fees within 5 business days or legal action may result pursuant to MCEHC Chapter 1, Regulation 4(e). Applications with supporting documentation can be submitted via the customer portal "Permit Center" online at maricopacountyaz-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home.
Establishment had added a high temperature dishwasher approximately 5 months prior and a low temperature dishwasher 2 months prior. Establishment has an 50 gallon gas water heater installed. Establishment has also added and a hot water boiler without proper backflow 2 months prior.
"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.
| 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.