Each week, the county’s routine food-safety inspections are reviewed and restaurants with some of the highest counts of major health-code violations — called “risk factors” by inspectors — are highlighted. The latest compilation lists a handful of Phoenix-area food operations that received multiple citations during recent inspections. The items cited range from temperature-control failures for cooked and refrigerated foods to issues involving employee practices and the storage of chemicals in food preparation areas.
One establishment inspected on McDowell Road was cited three times. Carniceria Guasave, located at 3632 W. McDowell Road in Phoenix, received violations for not having a certified food manager on duty, cooked pork belly that was not maintained at the required hot holding temperature, and ham and hot dogs in a meat display case that were not being kept cold enough. Those types of citations reflect the inspection focus on time and temperature control as well as on-site managerial oversight of food safety procedures.
Another meat market carrying three violations was Carniceria El Herradero at 1416 E. Broadway Road in Mesa. Inspectors found no hand-washing station at the grilling station, pans of cooked pork that were out of the required temperature range, and insecticide spray stored inside a food-preparation room. Those findings included both sanitation and chemical-storage concerns alongside temperature-control issues.
A Scottsdale sushi and Asian bistro also appeared on the list. Hokkaido Sushi and Asian Bistro at 7707 E. McDowell Road was cited three times after inspectors observed two containers of crab mix kept at room temperature, condiment bottles placed in the ice of a soda dispenser, and cooked beef and dumplings stored inside grocery bags. Nearby, a Gilbert pizza shop was cited for similar-count violations: Barro’s Pizza at 1939 E. Baseline Road received citations for employee drinks stored in a prep table, an employee who, while wearing gloves, touched clothing and then handled food, and pepperoni and shredded cheese that were not sufficiently cold.
Hokkaido Asian Bistro (left) and Barro’s Pizza (right) exteriors in the Phoenix area — both restaurants were cited in recent Maricopa County inspections for health-code violations, including drinks left on a prep table and condiments stored in soda ice.
A national pizza chain location in Chandler also appeared with three violations following an inspection. Domino’s Pizza at 25 W. Warner Road was cited after an employee handled a phone and then went on to make pizza, no paper towels were available at a hand-wash sink, and pasta and cheese items were not being kept cold enough. Across the inspected sites, the recurring themes included lapses in maintaining safe temperatures for perishable foods and procedural shortcomings involving hand hygiene or employee practices.
Not every inspection resulted in violations. The weekly roundup also noted local businesses that earned perfect inspection scores and were placed on the Dirty Dining “Dean’s List.” Those operations listed with no violations include Original Chop Shop at 10625 N. Tatum Blvd. in Phoenix; Renegade Coffee at 5959 N. Granite Reef Rd. in Scottsdale; The Break Room at 10400 N. 43rd Ave. in Glendale; Salad and Go at 251 S. Power Rd. in Mesa; Wassan International Kitchen at 1946 E. University Drive in Tempe; and US Pizza at 13065 W. Grand Ave. in Surprise. The series that compiles inspection results posts the weekly reports for readers who wish to review more entries or see inspection histories for specific establishments.
The Dirty Dining roundup focuses on the inspection items deemed major risk factors by environmental health authorities and highlights both lapses and clean inspections. Readers who notice errors in reporting or who have photos or videos related to breaking local food-safety stories have been invited to submit corrections and media to the reporting team. The regular listing of inspection outcomes offers a snapshot of the specific violations observed at individual locations and the variety of issues inspectors commonly identify during routine health and safety checks.
Maricopa County posts full food-inspection reports, grades and permit details on its Environmental Services site; those public records include inspection dates, permit numbers, corrective actions and are retained for about three years, so readers can review the original reports for the specifics behind any listed citation.
Carniceria Guasave (3632 W. McDowell Road) is shown in recent public compilations as having received a D-grade inspection from Maricopa County and was included on local news roundups of failing June inspections.
Maricopa County inspection records for Carniceria El Herradero (permit FD-90820) show a routine inspection on November 8, 2023 that resulted in a D grade with multiple priority violations and a reinspection deadline set for no later than November 16, 2023.
The county inspection record for the Domino’s at 25 W. Warner Road in Chandler documents a routine inspection on July 17, 2023 that noted the missing paper towels at a hand sink (the item was restocked during the inspection) and lists the location as “Not Participating” in the county’s voluntary grading program.