25 Tucson restaurants fail inspections, six fail follow-ups

Twenty-five local food service establishments — 21 restaurants, a coffee shop, a meat market and two convenience stores — received ratings of “provisional” or “fail” during Pima County health inspections in February.

Six failed follow-up inspections and one failed two reinspections. The rest passed.

Here’s what you need to know:

Alejandro’s Cafe

31 N. Scott Ave.

• History: Consistently “good” ratings since 2002.
• What the inspector saw: Nine critical violations on a Feb. 23 inspection, earning a “provisional” rating. Violations included food stored at unsafe temperatures, items with no expiration date, improper glove use and hand-washing, and “out-of-control” risk factors. “Tubs with food debris in them were holding lids and equipment stored as clean. The lids and equipment also had food splatter.” Follow-up: Passed March 4.
• Response: Owner or manager could not be reached for comment.

Ali Baba Restaurant

2545 E. Speedway

• History: Mixed ratings over the years, but failed three inspections in January.
• What the inspector saw: Five critical violations in a Feb. 8 follow-up to the failed January inspections, including unsafe holding temperatures and cleanliness issues including food debris on equipment stored as clean. The restaurant failed, since any violations while on provisional status merit a fail.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 19.
• Response: The health department “came a couple of times, but everything is fine now,” said shift manager

• Amir Panah

• in February.

Broadway Pizza Cafe

4558 E. Broadway

• History: Had only “excellent” ratings since it opened in October 2013.
• What the inspector saw: Eight critical violations, including rodent feces found in the dish room and kitchen, in a Feb. 3 inspection. A cooked pizza to be cut and reheated to order throughout the day was held at 77 degrees, below the required 130 degrees for cooked food. The restaurant got a “provisional” rating.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 16.
• Response: “We did get a provisional, but they came back the next week and we got an excellent. The provisional was brought upon by an unknown pest problem that was actually not as bad as anyone made it sound,” said manager

• Mike Babick

• . “The very next day we had Arizona Pest Control come out and it was taken care of immediately. All of the issues they found that they put us in their provisional for were corrected the very next day.”

Bushi Sushi

4689 E. Speedway

• History: “Good” and “excellent” ratings since its opening in 2012.
• What the inspector saw: On a Feb. 8 inspection, the restaurant was cited for seven critical violations and received a “provisional” rating. “Numerous food contact utensils and surfaces throughout the facility not clean to sign and touch, or stored on unclean surfaces,” the inspector wrote. Also noted was dried food debris on the sushi bar, cross-contamination of foods, hand-washing violations and unsafe holding temperatures.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 18.
• Response: Owner or manager could not be reached for comment.

Chicken Nuevo

3102 E. Grant Road

• History: Failed an inspection in November 2013. Received passing ratings until Jan. 26, when it received a “provisional” rating.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “fail” during a Feb. 5 reinspection for its provisional status, when two critical violations still hadn’t been corrected. A “hot hold” cabinet for cooked chickens wasn’t keeping the birds hot enough, and roach activity was seen near the mop and hand sinks.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 16.
• Response: Owner or manager could not be reached for comment.

Chopstix Asian Diner

3820 S. Palo Verde Road

• History: Received a “provisional” rating during a 2009 inspection, and two “needs improvement” ratings in 2014.
• What the inspector saw: Five critical violations in a Feb. 10 inspection, earning the restaurant a “provisional” rating. Raw beef was stored directly on top of raw chicken in a walk-in cooler, and the shelving in the walk-in was “rust covered and dirty.” Cooked chicken and egg rolls stored at room temperature tested above safe holding temperature, and date markings were missing from containers of cooked meats.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 22.
• Response: Owner or manager could not be reached for comment.

Coffee X-Change

8501 E. Broadway

• History: Mostly “good” and “excellent” ratings over the years. Failed an inspection in 2006.
• What the inspector saw: Rodent droppings were seen throughout the restaurant in a Feb. 25 inspection, one of eight critical violations that earned a “provisional” rating. “Observed employee handle the bottom of an ice bucket which had been stored on the floor. Without washing his hands, the employee scooped powdered vanilla-flavored mix from a bin,” the inspector wrote. There were also issues with cross-contamination of raw foods and dishes with food debris stored as clean.
• Follow-up: Passed March 7.
• Response: “The health inspector has been back. We’re new management now and we did not take over until after this provisional was given,” said manager

• Mary Helton

• . “When he came back three days after the provisional ... he went ahead and reinspected and we have passed. He said everything was taken care of.”

El Dorado Restaurant

1949 S. Fourth Ave.

• History: Mixed ratings over the years. Failed inspections in 2012 and 2014, and received a “needs improvement” in January.
• What the inspector saw: During a Feb. 9 reinspection to January’s “needs improvement,” it was noted that one of the faucets on the three-compartment dish sink wasn’t working. An employee told the inspector that a pan was used to transfer water from a working faucet to the dish sink. In addition, a handwashing sink next to the dish sink was disconnected. The restaurant received a “fail” for not correcting the critical violation.
• Follow-up: Failed Feb. 23; passed March 4.
• Response: Owner or manager wasn’t available for comment.

El Herradero Carniceria y Panaderia

4211 E. 22nd Street

• History: Failed six inspections in 2010, one in 2011. Mostly “good” and “excellent” ratings since.
• What the inspector saw: Twelve violations in a Feb. 29 inspection, earning the market a “provisional” rating. Violations included unsafe holding temperatures, cross-contamination of raw meats, dirty utensils being stored as clean and a clogged sewer line. “A meat department employee was observed transitioning between providing raw meat to serving ready to eat hot held foods without washing hands.”
• Follow-up: Passed March 10.
• Response: Owner could not be reached for comment.

El Molinito

5380 E. 22nd St.

• History: Failed two inspections in 2010, but has received “good” and “excellent” ratings since.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “provisional” rating after seven critical violations were seen on Feb. 12. Broken refrigeration devices and hand- and dish-washing violations were noted. “A used chunk of chewing gum was observed on a clean dish rack.” Other items were encrusted with dry food and grime.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 22.
• Response: “We had a few things that weren’t up to code, but we fixed them and passed shortly after,” said manager

• Jenny Garcia

• .

Guadalajara Original Grill

1220 E. Prince Road

• History: Consistently “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2012, but received a “needs improvement” during a Feb. 5 inspection.
• What the inspector saw: Two critical violations still hadn’t been corrected by the Feb. 6 follow-up inspection, and the restaurant received a “fail.” Because one of two walk-in refrigerators still had not been repaired, food in the unit was being stored at unsafe temperatures.
• Follow-up: Failed Feb. 7; passed Feb. 9.
• Response: “The grade we received was a needs improvement, not a fail,” said manager

• Eric Ramirez

• . “The walk-in was a few degrees higher than the health department wanted. We rectified it immediately and were upgraded to passing.”

Kelly’s Cajun Grill (Tucson Mall Food Court)

4500 N. Oracle Road

• History: Failed inspections in 2011 and 2014.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “provisional” rating on a Feb. 11 inspection for six critical violations, including cross-contamination, food held at unsafe temperatures, dirty equipment stored as clean and a lack of employee knowledge about food-borne illnesses. The inspector found a spray bottle of chemical degreaser touching clean dishes and a bottle of cough medicine stored above a food-preparation area.
• Follow-up: Failed Feb. 22; passed Feb. 29.
• Response: “We have addressed all of the food safety violations and we received a passing grade on the follow-up inspection,” said

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• Stephen Yeung

• , vice president of Kelly’s parent company. “The manager was given a written warning for allowing these food safety violations to occur and is required to retake a food manager course. The company’s policies and procedures were not followed and we are deeply embarrassed by our poor inspection.”

La Baguette

1797 E. Prince Road

• History: Consistently “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2003, but received a “needs improvement” on Feb. 5.
• What the inspector saw: One critical violation during a Feb. 17 follow-up inspection to the “needs improvement.” Because the ceiling in the back of the building had missing, stained and bulging tiles, with exposed insulation, the restaurant failed.
• Follow-up: Passed March 1.
• Response: “The damage to the ceiling tiles was from something that broke on the roof, and it’s all been repaired,” said shift manager

• Nancy O’Leary

• . “Everything else is impeccable. The girl who cleans in the afternoon does an amazing job.”

Miss Saigon

1072 N. Campbell Ave.

• History: Mostly “good” ratings over the years. Failed two inspections in 2007 and received a “needs improvement” in 2012.
• What the inspector saw: Seven critical violations in a Feb. 23 inspection, earning the restaurant a “provisional” rating. Noted were “live roach activity,” meat held above safe temperatures and utensils stored as clean but encrusted in food debris.
• Follow-up: Passed March 4.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

Old Peking Restaurant

2522 E. Speedway

• History: Has received mostly “good” ratings since 2006, when it failed three inspections. In December, it received a “provisional” rating, but passed its follow-up.
• What the inspector saw: On a Feb. 16 inspection, the restaurant was cited for seven critical violations and received a “provisional” rating. The inspector noted an employee handling raw stomach and returning to the cook line without washing his hands. “The stomach was also in one of the three-bin sink bins ... the other two bins had dirty dishes in them while the stomach was being prepped,” the inspector wrote.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 26.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

Sushi Pho Restaurant

7159 E. Broadway

• History: Passed its first inspection when it opened in January.
• What the inspector saw: During a Feb. 19 routine evaluation, 11 critical violations were noted and the restaurant received a “provisional” rating. Issues included unsafe holding temperatures, cross-contamination of raw meat and seafood, dirty dishes stored as clean and bad handwashing technique.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 29.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

Sushi Ten

4500 E. Speedway

• History: Consistently “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2004.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “provisional” on a Feb. 10 inspection, after it was cited for seven critical violations. “Significant majority of wares stored as clean in kitchen were observed encrusted with food debris.” The inspector found unsafe temperatures and cross-contamination, and watched an employee grab an open garbage can with gloved hands, then return to cooking without changing gloves or washing hands.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 22.
• Response: “There were some things that we needed to change but hadn’t done yet, and the health inspection gave us the inspiration we needed to get it taken care of,” said manager

• Ina Im

• . “We remodeled the whole kitchen, and the health department was very happy with it when they came back.”

Szechuan Omei

2601 E. Speedway

• History: Failed inspections last May, October, November and December.
• What the inspector saw: Seven critical violations during a Feb. 29 inspection, earning the restaurant a “provisional” rating. Violations included employees touching their faces and raw food before returning to food preparation without washing their hands; and a used cigarette butt and a bottle of auto transmission fluid found inside the dry storage area.
• Follow-up: Failed March 10.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

Taco Giro

5754 E. 22nd St.

• History: Failed inspections in December 2009 and January 2010, but has received only “good” and “excellent” ratings since.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “provisional” rating on a Feb. 12 inspection for nine critical violations. The inspector cited the facility for temperature issues, cross-contamination and dirty utensils stored as clean. “Observed manager handling raw beef with gloves. Without washing his hands, he started handling clean plates and making food while wearing the same gloves,” the inspector wrote.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 22.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

Taqueria Juanito’s

708 W. Grant Road

• History: Mostly “good” and “excellent “ ratings since 2004, but a “needs improvement” in 2014.
• What the inspector saw: Nine violations were observed during a Feb. 17 inspection, and the restaurant received a “provisional” rating. The inspector noted that the facility didn’t have a hand sink in the kitchen or food-prep area, and there were problems with cross-contamination and safe holding temperatures. An employee was seen cutting raw beef with gloves, then touching clean dishes and utensils without removing the “bloodied gloves” or washing hands.
• Follow-up: Failed Feb. 29 and March 10.
• Response: Manager declined to comment.

Tortilleria y Panaderia Real

1427 S. Fourth Ave.

• History: Has received “excellent” and “good” ratings since 2007, until it received a “provisional” and a “fail” in January.
• What the inspector saw: Two critical violations were noted during a Feb. 1 follow-up to the failed January inspections. The restaurant was cited for multiple dirty utensils and pieces of food equipment, as well as damaged ceiling tiles from a leak.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 22.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

Viva Burrito

2175 E. Irvington Road

• History: Has received only “good” ratings since 2007.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “provisional” rating during a Feb. 2 inspection and was cited for five critical violations. Issues included food stored above safe temperatures, improper hand-washing, cross-contamination, items without a date marked on them and dirty kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 16.
• Response: Owner or manager was not available to comment.

World Wide Wraps

500 N. Fourth Ave.

• History: Has received only “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2002.
• What the inspector saw: Five critical violations were noted during a Feb. 18 inspection, earning the restaurant a “provisional” rating. “Manager observed making customer drinks, involving handling vegetables for juicing, without first washing hands,” the inspector wrote. “Manager observed handling money and then making drinks without washing his hands.” Other problems included food stored above safe temperature, improper dishwashing technique and cross-contamination of raw foods.
• Follow-up: Passed Feb. 29.
• Response: “We’ve been doing this for 17 years and with two inspections a year, that’s about 34 inspections. We’ve had all excellent and good inspections until now, which means we do our job correctly,” said owner

• Ali Bagheri

• . “But sometimes things happen. We had a refrigerator that had some technical problems, I called the technician and we took care of the problem right away.”

Circle K

3128 N. First Ave.

• History: Received a “fail” in 2012 and a “needs improvement” on Feb. 11.
• What the inspector saw: On a Feb. 16 follow-up to the “needs improvement” rating, the inspector noted that a walk-in refrigeration unit in the convenience store was not keeping food and beverages below the required 41 degrees.
• Follow-up: Failed Feb. 18; Passed Feb. 26.
• Response: A representative from Circle K’s corporate office did not respond to a request for comment.

Quik Mart

1250 E. Fort Lowell Road

• History: Consistently “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2002, until it received a “needs improvement” on Feb. 18.
• What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a “fail” during a Feb. 29 follow-up to the “needs improvement” rating. Because a “dedicated hand sink” still hadn’t been installed and the facility was in the process of installing a floor drain for the three-compartment sink, the restaurant was cited, and given 10 days to get up to code.
• Follow-up: Passed March 10.
• Response: “We’ve been in business for 35 years and this is the first time these issues have been brought to the our attention at this store. On our previous inspection, we got an ‘excellent’ and there was no mention of problems with the sinks,” said president and owner

• Troy Little.

• “We always want to abide by the health department’s standards. We did what they asked, and spent $6,000 to put in a second hand sink and change the plumbing on the three-compartment sink.”