Inspection Report

Business Name
Daruma Ramen

Business Address
1116 S DOBSON RD MESA AZ 85202

Permit Number
FD-77902

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
9/17/2026

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
0

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 6

Description: Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use

Comments:

2-401.11 - Core: Eating, Drinking, or Using Tobacco Addl Notes: Observed an employee drink without a cover at the ware wash station. PIC moved employee consumables to the designated area and will retrain on proper eating, drinking, and tobacco use. To ensure food safety, prevent physical contamination and the transmission of disease; employee eating, drinking, beverage storage, and using tobacco must be done in an approved area. 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 all the knives in the clean knife holder with food debris (fresh and dried) on them. Person in charge (PIC) moved the knives to the ware wash station and coached employees that only clean knives can be stored in the holder. Holder was washed/sanitized at time of inspection. All food-contact surfaces must be cleaned to sight and touch. All food-contact surfaces that contact TCS foods must be cleaned every 4 hours by washing, rinsing, and sanitizing. 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 #: 24

Description: Time as a Public Health Control: Procedures and Records

Comments:

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: There was no time stamp on the sushi rice at time of inspection. Person in charge (PIC) time stamped the rice at time of inspection. Rice was made an hour prior to 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 #: 28

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

Comments:

7-102.11 - Priority Foundation: Common Name-Working Containers Addl Notes: Observed two spray bottles of cleaner that did not have a label the person in charge (PIC) wrote a label using a marker at time of inspection. All cleaners and chemicals need a label to reduce risk of contamination. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 35

Description: Approved Thawing Methods Used

Comments:

3-501.13 - Core: Thawing Addl Notes: Observed frozen salmon thawing on a rack near the cook station. Person in charge (PIC) they were going to be moved to refrigeration. PIC moved the salmon to finish thawing in the walk-in and coach employees. 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.

Violation #: 39

Description: Contamination Prevented during Food Preparation, Storage and Display

Comments:

3-305.11 - Core: Food Storage - Preventing Contamination from the Premises Addl Notes: Observed a bucket of cooked mushrooms cooling on the floor. Person in charge (PIC) moved the bucket to a prep table. Also, observed a bag of carrots, sauces, and boxes of pork on the floor in the walk-in cooler. PIC had employee move the foods to the racks. Food must be stored at least 6 inches off the ground at all times to prevent contamination from the premises. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

No County legal action will result from this inspection. Report emailed.

"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.