Inspection Report

Business Name
Las 15 Salsas Restaurant

Business Address
722 W HATCHER RD PHOENIX AZ 85021

Permit Number
FD-57456

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
5/20/2025

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
2

Inspection Status
Re-inspection required

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: Observed no certified food protection manager onsite at the time of inspection. Predefined Comment: 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 #: 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 employee manual warewashing at the three compartment sink, sanitizing dishes in sanitizer solution with less than 25ppm chlorine sanitizer. Discussed the importance of proper sanitizer levels and proper monitoring of sanitizer levels and food-contact surfaces sanitized using chlorine sanitizer must be sanitized with a contact time of least 10 seconds. The person in charge made new sanitizer solution with 50-100ppm chlorine and properly sanitized dishes at the time of inspection. 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 TCS foods with internal temperatures between 50-64F stored in the undercounter beverage cooler behind the bar. TCS food items included cut melon, and cooked red and green salsas. Predefined Comment: All TCS foods improperly cold held were relocated to alternative functioning refrigeration unit to rapidly cool to 41°F at time of inspection. Predefined Comment: 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 #: 28

Description: Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, and Used; Held for Retail Sale, Properly Stored

Comments:

Violation #: 33

Description: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment for Temperature Control

Comments:

4-301.11 - Priority Foundation: Cooling, Heating, and Holding Capacities-Equipment. 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 under counter beverage reach-in cooler behind the bar with minimum ambient temperature of 51F. The digital temperaure display on the cooler showed 39.5F and the establishments internal ambient thermometer showed a temperature of 49F. TCS foods stored inside the cooler had internal temperatures of 53-64F. Predefined Comment: Cold holding equipment must have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. Must repair cold holding equipment such that it maintains TCS foods at 41°F or below. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.

Violation #: 38

Description: Insects, Rodents and Animals not Present

Comments:

6-501.111 (A-B, D) - Core: Controlling Pests; Monitoring Addl Notes: Observed significant number of flies throughout the establishment on and around food equipment, clean utensils, pakaged and unpackaged foods. Flies were observed in the dry storage room, in the kitchen by the cook line/hot holding station, by the three compartment sink and water heater, by the back prep table, and in the bar area. Predefined Comment: Establishment must be maintained free of pests and all pest control measures must be conducted by a licensed pest control specialist. Must eliminate current pest control problem and obtain pest control from a certified and licensed pest control specialist by re-inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.

Violation #: 47

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

Comments:

4-101.11 (B-E) - Core: Characteristics- Multiuse; Durable, Nonabsorbent, Smooth, Easily Cleanable Addl Notes: Observed the shelves in the dry storage area lined with cardboard where the cardboard had food splatter/debris adhered to the surfaces that contact packaged and unpackaged foods. Predefined Comment: All food-contact surfaces must be smooth, non-absorbent, and easily cleanable. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Violation #: 48

Description: Warewashing Facilities, Installed, Maintained, Used, Test Strips

Comments:

4-302.14 - Priority Foundation: Sanitizing Solutions, Testing Devices. 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 establshement utilize chlorine sanitizer but have no chlorine santizer test strips available onsite to test for sanitizer concentrations. Predefined Comment: Test strips are required for any sanitizers used with food contact surfaces. Provide sanitizer test strips prior to re-inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.

Violation #: 55

Description: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained, and Clean

Comments:

6-501.12 - Core: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Addl Notes: Observed accumulation of loose soils on the ceiling, around light fixtures, on vents, and electrical chords, all directly over the cook line and food prep areas. Predefined Comment: Physical facility must be cleaned frequently enough to prevent accumulation of dirt, organic matter, and food debris. Must clean physical facility prior to next routine inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

6-101.11 - Core: Surface Characteristics-Indoor Areas Addl Notes: Observed unsealed bricks, cinder blocks, and wood used as support under equipment on the cook line, next to prep tables, by mechanical and manual warewashing, and other areas of the kitchen. Observed crack, gaps and unsealed wall around the hand wash sink in the kitchen and the cook line. Predefined Comment: All floors, walls, and ceilings must be maintained and repaired such that it is smooth and easily cleanable. Repair physical facility prior to next routine inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Comments/Details

Re-inspection for reach-in cooler and chlorine test strips by 05/29/25
Predefined Comment: 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.