PlateScore

Kay's Kafe

A

3401 S 43rd Ave, Phoenix 85009

Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking · Permit FD-02577

Score based on 8 scored inspections over the county's rolling 3-year window, weighted toward recent visits. How scoring works

93
Excellent

Phoenix restaurant avg: 95

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Score over time

1000602023202420252026Oct 6, 2023 — Routine — score 39 (4 priority, 0 foundation, 1 core)Mar 13, 2024 — Routine — score 100 (0 priority, 0 foundation, 0 core)Oct 31, 2024 — Routine — score 85 (1 priority, 0 foundation, 0 core)Feb 26, 2025 — Routine — score 89 (0 priority, 2 foundation, 1 core)Jun 17, 2025 — Routine — score 83 (1 priority, 0 foundation, 2 core)Oct 28, 2025 — Routine — score 100 (0 priority, 0 foundation, 0 core)Mar 3, 2026 — Routine — score 100 (0 priority, 0 foundation, 0 core)May 26, 2026 — Routine — score 100 (0 priority, 0 foundation, 0 core)100
Score per routine inspection and re-inspection; dashed line marks the “Poor” threshold (60).

Inspection history11 on record

2026

May 26, 2026RoutinecleanA

Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Predefined Comment: No violations noted at time of inspection.

Mar 3, 2026RoutinecleanA

Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Discussed with operator Date marking for Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items maximum 7days.

2025

Oct 28, 2025RoutinecleanA

Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Predefined Comment: No violations noted at time of inspection.Discussed with operator separating types of raw animal foods from each other during storage to prevent contamination.

Oct 15, 2025Advisorynot scoredclean
Jun 17, 2025Routine1 priority2 coreB°

Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.

#21 — Proper Hot Holding TemperaturesPriority3-501.16

Inspector's notes

Internal temperature of 112*F for gravy and 80*F for potato & sausage patties found stored at room temperature at cook line area. Per Owner, these items were cooked less than 2hours prior and items are intended to be held at 135*F or above during service or cook to order. Discussed all Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items shall be hot held at 135*F or above during service. Operator proceeded to reheat gravy at 165*F and hot hold at 135*F. Potato & Sausage patties were placed under refrigeration for cooling. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

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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.

#38 — Insects, Rodents and Animals not PresentCore6-501.112

Inspector's notes

Observed old rodent droppings in dry storage area of facility. Instructed operator to clean and sanitize all dry storage. Operator presented last pest control report dated 5/30/35. Report did not indicate activity. Ensure to seal any holes to prevent potential entry. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

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6-501.112 - Core: Removing Dead or Trapped Birds, Insects, Rodents and other Pests

#55 — Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained, and CleanCore6-501.12

Inspector's notes

Observed old food debris and grease in floors and walls of cook line area and through kitchen. Ensure to detail clean and sanitize all floors, walls and ceilings maintain as necessary. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

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6-501.12 - Core: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions

Mar 4, 2025Advisorynot scoredclean
Feb 27, 2025Advisorynot scoredclean
Feb 26, 2025Routine2 foundation1 coreB°

Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.A re-inspection will occur tomorrow within 24hours to verify hot water in food establishment. Discussed with operator to ensure hot water by tomorrows re-inspection failure to have hot water may result in suspension of facility.

#28 — Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, and Used; Held for Retail Sale, Properly StoredPriority foundation7-102.11

Inspector's notes

Observed spray bottle with alcohol and no label. All toxic chemicals must have common name on working containers. Operator was instructed to provide label on spray bottle. Ensure to label all toxic chemicals. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

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7-102.11 - Priority Foundation: Common Name-Working Containers

#35 — Approved Thawing Methods UsedCore3-501.13

Inspector's notes

Observed fries sitting at room temperature, internal temperature of 56*. Ensure to use proper thawing methods for fries, under refrigeration at 41*F or below or under running water. Operator indicated fries had been sitting out for less than 4hours. Operator proceeded to place fries under refrigeration. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

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3-501.13 - Core: Thawing

#50 — Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate PressurePriority foundation5-103.11

Inspector's notes

Observed no hot water available and warewashing sink and hand sink. Ensure to provide 110*F at warewashing sink and minimum 100*F at hand washing sink. Operator indicated that technician was called earlier in the day to repair hot water issues. Ensure to provide hot water within 24hours. Upon good hot water ensure to adequately rewash food contact surfaces (meat slicer and meat tenderizer) to properly remove food debris. Corrective Action: Correct within 24 hours.

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5-103.11 - Priority Foundation: Capacity-Quantity and Availability

2024

Oct 31, 2024Routine1 priorityall corrected on siteB°

Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.

#16 — Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and SanitizedPriority4-501.114

Inspector's notes

Observed employee washing dishes with chemical chlorine sanitizer for manual ware washing of equipment with concentration below 50ppm. Discussed the importance of proper sanitizer levels and proper monitoring of sanitizer levels. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

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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.

Mar 13, 2024RoutinecleanA

This establishment received an A Grade and had 0 Priority, 0 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.No County legal action will result from this inspection.Inspection rights reviewed with T MontaInspection report emailed.Discussed date marking and employee beverages. On July 1st, 2023, the Environmental Services Department started emailing permit card(s) and permit invoice(s) to permittees. We need a current and accurate email address on file to ensure you receive a copy of your permit card and invoice(s) upon renewal. If you are unsure whether your email address is accurate, you may:• Contact your inspector using the phone number or email on your last inspection report to review, or • Contact the Department using the email addresses below, o Envquickservicerestaurants@maricopa.gov (facilities such as fast-food) o Envfullservicerestaurants@maricopa.gov (facilities that are full-service restaurants) o Envretailgrocery@maricopa.gov (facilities like grocery stores or retail food markets) o Envspecialtyprograms@maricopa.gov (mobile food/special events/plan review) If you need to update your email address and/or other contact information, please submit an administrative change request form at the below website https://www.maricopa.gov/FormCenter/Environmental-Services-16/Administrative-Change-Request-Form-181.Food Manager Licenses: 1,Award: A,Signer: T Monta Lvo

2023

Oct 6, 2023Routine4 priority1 coreD

This establishment received a(n) D Grade and had 4 Priority, 0 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.Discussed inventory check frequency, proper food storage, proper medicine storage, and pest control with PIC.Core-2-102.12(A), C: Certified Food Protection Manager >>> Observed no Certified Food Manager (CFM) onsite at time of inspection. Person in charge (PIC) was unable to produce a certified food protection manager certificate. A CFM is required to be on the premises during all hours of operations. Provide a CFM onsite by next routine inspection.**2ND CONSECUTIVE VIOLATION**Report emailed to PIC.No County legal action will result from this inspection.On July 1st, 2023, the Environmental Services Department started emailing permit card(s) and permit invoice(s) to permittees. We need a current and accurate email address on file to ensure you receive a copy of your permit card and invoice(s) upon renewal.If you are unsure whether your email address is accurate, you may:• Contact your inspector using the phone number or email on your last inspection report to review, or• Contact the Department using the email addresses below,o Envquickservicerestaurants@maricopa.gov (facilities such as fast-food)o Envfullservicerestaurants@maricopa.gov (facilities that are full-service restaurants)o Envretailgrocery@maricopa.gov (facilities like grocery stores or retail food markets)o Envspecialtyprograms@maricopa.gov (mobile food/special events/plan review)If you need to update your email address and/or other contact information, please submit an administrative change request form at the below websitehttps://www.maricopa.gov/FormCenter/Environmental-Services-16/Administrative-Change-Request-Form-181.Review Complete: CHECKED,Food Manager Licenses: 0,Embargo Lbs: 9,Award: D,Signer: Trini Montalvo,Review Notes: QA-CR

#13 — Food in Good Condition, Safe and UnadulteratedPriority3-101.11

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-101.11, P: Safe, Unadulterated and Honestly Presented. 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/4619/AMC-Toolbox---Approved-Source. >>> Observed boxes of onions/potatoes held in dry storage area with organic matter growth throughout. Also observed a box of tomatoes held in sliding two-door reach in cooler with organic matter throughout. PIC voluntarily discarded all items with significant organic matter growth at time of inspection. Discussed the importance of checking the integrity of all food stored in facility. PIC discussed with manager on site increasing the frequency of checking the integrity of the food. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection

#15 — Food Separated and ProtectedPriority3-302.11

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-302.11 (A1-2), P: 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. >>> Observed large metal bowl of raw chicken on shelf directly above raw bacon and chorizo stored in sliding two-door reach in. Person in charge moved the raw chicken so it was no longer stored above the raw bacon and chorizo. The person in charge indicated these foods are normally stored according to whether they are raw or ready to eat and that they would educate/inform other staff members to be more diligent about separation of raw and ready to eat foods to prevent cross contamination. Establishment must separate raw animal foods from ready to eat foods and other types of raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding and display by using separate equipment for each type, arranging each type of food in equipment so that cross contamination is prevented, and preparing each type of food at different times or in different areas. All raw animal proteins must be stored below RTE foods and stored according to cooking temperature at all times to prevent cross contamination. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection

#22 — Proper Cold Holding TemperaturesPriority3-501.16

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(2) and (B), P: 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. >>> Observed 2 plastic cambros of pork sausage patties at 54-67'F stored in lower portion of prep table on the cook line. Per PIC, the sausage patties were placed in the prep table the day prior to inspection. Sausage patties were voluntarily discarded at the time of inspection. All TCS foods held cold must be held at 41'F or below at all times. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection

#28 — Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, and Used; Held for Retail Sale, Properly StoredPriority7-207.11

PRIORITY VIOLATION-7-207.11 (B), P: Restriction and Storage-Medicines; Storage & labeling >>> Observed bottle of 'Pepcid' used for stomach problems stored directly on top of prep table on the cook line where RTE foods are held. PIC moved medicine to proper storage location at the time of inspection. All medicines must be stored in a designated area away from food, utensils, and single service items to prevent contamination. Discussed the importance of proper medicine storage with the PIC. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection

#39 — Contamination Prevented during Food Preparation, Storage and DisplayCore3-305.11

Core-3-305.11, C: Food Storage-Preventing Contamination from the Premises >>> Observed 3 boxes of french fries stored directly on the ground outside of single-door freezer. All food must be stored at least 6 inches off the ground at all times. PIC moved french fries to proper storage location at the time of inspection. :

Data from Maricopa County Environmental Services public records, last checked Jul 20, 2026. Grades marked with ° are computed equivalents for establishments not participating in the county's voluntary grading program. View official county records →