Inspection Report

Business Name
Salsitas Mexican Food

Business Address
7745 W THOMAS RD PHOENIX AZ 85035

Permit Number
FD-32671

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
5/11/2026

Grade
C

Priority Violation
2

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 10

Description: Adequate Handwashing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible

Comments:

5-205.11 - Priority Foundation: Using a Handwashing Sink-Operation and Maintenance. 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 handwashing sink by the drive-through window without any paper towels. Observed handwashing sink in the back kitchen area near the glass door reach-in refrigerator without any soap. Discussed with person in charge to replenish soap and paper towels as they empty at the handwashing stations. Person in charge replenished the paper towels and soap at the respective handwashing sinks. 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. 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 several dishes stored at the clean dishes rack. Upon separating some of the dishes stored as clean, a few of the metal pans were observed to have greasy residue and also a large section of a sticker and glue residue was observed on the pan. They were also observed to still have water trapped inside of the nested pans. The dirty dishes in question were taken to the 3-compartment sink to be washed, rinsed and sanitized at time of inspection. Discussed with person in charge that all food-contact surfaces must be cleaned to sight and touch. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 22

Description: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(2) and (B) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Cold 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/4576/AMC-Toolbox---Cold-Holding.

Addl Notes: Observed Pico de Gallo, shredded lettuce in water and macaroni salad with internal temperatures as measured using a probe thermometer ranging from 48°F - 59°F in the front counter food service area. According to the person in charge, they were cold holding. It was observed that the unit the food was in had ice in it, however there was not enough ice water to actually contact the containers of TCS food. According to the person in charge, the foods in question had been in the unit for less than 4 hours and were taken to the walk-in cooler to rapidly chill down to 41°F. The person in charge added more ice and water to the cold unit to sufficiently surround the food in ice water. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below. Eggs not treated to destroy Salmonellae can be stored in equipment that maintains an ambient air temperature of 45°F or below. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 23

Description: Proper Date Marking and Disposition

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.18 - Priority: Ready-To-Eat Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Disposition. 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: Observed a large bucket of red salsa in the walk-in cooler with a date mark of 5/3. Based on the date mark on the container of salsa, the salsa should have been sold of consumed by the end of the day on 5/9. The bucket of salsa was embargoed at time of inspection (see embargo form). 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 #: 41

Description: Wiping Cloths; Properly Used and Stored

Comments:

3-304.14 - Core: Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation Addl Notes: Observed several wiping cloths stored dry on the cutting tables. Discussed with person in charge that all wet wiping cloths must be stored in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations. Wiping cloths were placed in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 43

Description: In-Use Utensils; Properly Stored

Comments:

3-304.12 - Core: In-Use Utensils, Between-Use Storage Addl Notes: Observed a knife stored between a prep unit and an adjacent prep table on the prep line. Discussed with person in charge that in-use utensils must be stored in a clean, dry location; in running water; or in hot water above 135°F. If utensils are stored in food, the handles must be stored above the surface of the food. All in-use utensils were properly stored at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 47

Description: Food and Non-Food-Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed and Used

Comments:

4-501.11 - Core: Good Repair and Proper Adjustment-Equipment Addl Notes: Observed a walk-in cooler door that had some issue with either the gasket, the latch or the door alignment within the frame such that the door is difficult to fully close and tends to stay partially open with a small gap towards the bottom-side of the door. Discussed with person in charge to have the door repaired so that it fully closes. All equipment must be maintained in good repair at all times. Repair all equipment to a state of good repair prior to next routine inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Comments/Details

No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Discussed cooling containers.

"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.