Inspection Report

Business Name
SASA RESTAURANT & SWEETS

Business Address
3923 E THUNDERBIRD RD PHOENIX AZ 85032

Permit Number
FD2405590

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
11/7/2025

Grade
D

Priority Violation
4

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: Observed employee prepping food, walk from kitchen through two-way swinging doors, deliver food to customer, back to kitchen through swining doors and continue prepping food without washing hands. Observed different employee come from kitchen through two-way swinging doors, then prepare food with gloved hands without washing hands after passing through swinging door and contaminating hands. 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. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 10

Description: Adequate Handwashing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible

Comments:

6-301.11 - Priority Foundation: Handwashing Cleanser, Availability. 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 no soap at the only handwashing sink in the kitchen area by the cookline. 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. PIC provided soap for handwash sink at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 15

Repeat Violation

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 shelled unpasteurized eggs stored above RTE olives, raw ground beef stored above intact beef in the walk-in cooler at the time of inspection. 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 was instructed to properly store all raw animal proteins according to the final cooking temperature based on the cooking parameters in § 3-401.11 of the Food Code. Consecutive repeat violation: 3rd. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 21

Description: Proper Hot Holding Temperatures

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(1) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Hot 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/4614/AMC-Toolbox---Hot-Holding.

Addl Notes: Observed meat spit 80*F-90*F rotating without the heat source turned on at the time of inspection. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 135°F or above. Instructed PIC to turn heat source on at the time of inspection and reheat improperly hot held TCS food items to 165°F at time of inspection. Provided PIC with gyro and shawarma guidance 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 tzatziki sauce 62*F, feta cheese 49*F, cut tomatoes 52*F in the prep table at the time of inspection. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below. Per PIC, TCS food items were pulled from the walk-in cooler one hour prior to inspection time. Instructed PIC to relocate improperly cold held TCS food items to the walk-in cooler to cool TCS foods down to 41*F at the time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

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 prep table on the cookline with a temperature of 46*F measured with inspectors min/max thermometer at the time of inspection and TCS foods between 49-62*F per inspectors calibrated probing thermometer. 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. Reinspection can be verified via electronic means. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection on 11/17/25.

Comments/Details

Due to the violations noted on this inspection report, County legal action may result from this inspection.
Discussed with PIC: vent opening in dry storage, ambient air thermometers for cold holding equipment, in-use utensil storage

"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.