Inspection Report

Business Name
Habaneros Mexican Grill
Business Address
14870 N NORTHSIGHT BLVD SCOTTSDALE AZ 85260
Permit Number
FD-88661
Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection
Inspection Date
11/4/2025
Grade
Not Participating
Priority Violation
3
Inspection Status
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: On cook line, employee cracked raw shell eggs with gloved hands then continued working with cooking utensils and handling ready to eat foods with same gloved hands. Instructed employee to remove gloves, wash hands, and don new gloves to continue with task. Discussed the importance of proper hand washing and when hand washing is required with the person-in-charge (PIC). Hands are to be washed at any time contamination occurs and when changing tasks. 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: At in use 3-compartment sink, no quat sanitizer solution available and at in use warewashing machine, no detectable chlorine sanitizer at dishware surfaces. Warewashing machine was placed out of order for maintenance and chlorine sanitizer was provided for use in 3-compartment sink at concentration of 50-100ppm. Discussed more frequent monitoring of sanitizer solutions, especially at start of day and after periods of inactivity or when exchanging out bottles of sanitizer. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 22

Repeat Violation

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: ***Third Consecutive Violation*** On cook line, in prep table cooler, TCS foods (raw meats, eggs, salsas, cheeses, sour cream) with internal temperatures of 60*F. Per employee, TCS foods were placed in prep table cooler within normal time parameters. Cheeses, cut cabbage, eggs, raw meats, salsas, sour cream were moved to ice baths to rapidly cool back down to proper temperature. Maintain TCS (time/ temperature control for food safety) foods at a cold holding temperature of 41*F or less at all times. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 33

Repeat Violation

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: ***Third Consecutive Violation*** On cook line, prep table cooler with an ambient temperature of 65*F, taken with inspector min/max irreversible thermometer. Discontinue use of prep table cooler for storing of TCS foods. Cold holding equipment is to have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. Repair cold holding equipment such that it maintains TCS foods at 41°F or below. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.

Violation #: 47

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

Comments:

4-101.19 - Core: Nonfood-Contact Surfaces Addl Notes: On storage shelves, cardboard used as shelf liners. Replace cardboard with a smooth and easily cleanable product. NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT that are exposed to splash, spillage, or other FOOD soiling or that require frequent cleaning shall be constructed of a CORROSION-RESISTANT, nonabsorbent, and SMOOTH material. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Violation #: 49

Description: Non-Food-Contact Surfaces Clean

Comments:

4-602.13 - Core: Nonfood Contact Surfaces Addl Notes: In walk in cooler, shelving with accumulation of food debris. Maintain clean. Nonfood-contact surfaces shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris. Nonfood-contact surfaces shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Comments/Details


Due to the violation noted on this inspection report, County legal action may result from this inspection.
Ensure all employees working with food obtain food worker certification from ANSI certified online site.

"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.
A B B B B B B B C C C C C C D D
Priority 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 3
Priority Foundation 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 5 3 4 0 1 2 3 0

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