Caliente Mexican Grill
C°1855 W Deer Valley Rd, Phoenix 85027
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking · Permit FD-23-00706
Score based on 9 scored inspections over the county's rolling 3-year window, weighted toward recent visits. How scoring works
Score over time
Inspection history9 on record
2026
May 26, 2026Routine2 priorityall corrected on siteC°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed kitchen chef contact raw shrimp from prep sink, de glove one hand, use clean food contact surfaces on flat top grill such as spatula and tongs. Then re-glove single hand for food prep without removing gloves and washing hands. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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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. Predefined Comment: 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. Predefined Comment: Employee properly washed hands at handwash sink at time of inspection. Predefined Comment: Discussed the importance of proper hand washing procedures with the person-in-charge (PIC). Proper handwashing procedure is to rinse hands with warm water, scrub with soap for 10-15 seconds, rinse with warm water, dry with approved drying provision, and turn off in a manner to prevent re-contamination of hands. Entire process should take approximately 20 seconds for full and proper handwashing to prevent spread of pathogens and contamination.
Inspector's notes
Observed manager on duty barehand cut lime garnish on to customer margarita for service. Discussed wearing gloves or using tongs. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-301.11(B) - Priority: Preventing Contamination from Hands. 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. Predefined Comment: Discussed the importance of preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat (RTE) foods with the person-in-charge (PIC). Bare hand contact is not approved with ready-to-eat (RTE) food items.
Feb 18, 2026Routine1 foundation1 coreall corrected on siteB°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed accumulation of food debris (limes and garlic) inside the basin of establishment rear hand sink. Hand sink is only to be used for hand washing actives. Discussed no dumping with PIC. Items removed. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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5-205.11 - Priority Foundation: Using a Handwashing Sink-Operation and Maintenance. 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. Predefined Comment: 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. Predefined Comment: PIC relocated all items blocking handwash sink at time of inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed shrimp inside prep sink thawing in stagnant water buckets. Discussed thawing under refrigeration or running water. Running water applied at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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3-501.13 - Core: Thawing Predefined Comment: All foods being thawed from frozen must be thawed in an approved manner. Foods must be thawed under refrigeration, under cold running water, or as part of the cooking process. Observed ROP fish inside vacuum packaging inside walk-in fridge. Discussed removing from packaging before thawing. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection. Predefined Comment: All ROP fish labeled "Keep Frozen" must be removed completely from reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) prior to thawing under refrigeration or immediately after thawing under cold running water. All ROP fish was removed from ROP packaging at time of inspection.
2025
Nov 25, 2025RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Aug 28, 2025Routine1 priorityall corrected on siteB°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Discussed the need for a Bodily Fluid Clean up Kit - Information provided.
Inspector's notes
Observed stainless steel pan of Black beans stored directly across from walk in cooler door with an internal temperature of 44-45*F in center of pan. As per the person in charge, the beans were prepared the day before and cooled in walk in cooler. Advised staff not to cool foods in from of walk in cooler door and to cool in containers no deeper that 2 inches. Cold hold of food is to be 41*F or lower. Black beans were embargoed and discarded. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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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.
May 1, 2025RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
2024
Oct 10, 2024Routine1 coreA°
No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed inside food contact surface of an ice tea dispenser out on the customer floor with accumulated brown organic matter on the interior food contact surface. Non-TCS enclosed food contact surfaces must be cleaned at a frequency to preclude the accumulation of organic matter, dirt, debris, etc. Food-contact surfaces were properly sanitized at time of inspection.
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4-602.11 (E) - Core: Equipment Food - Contact Surfaces and Utensils-Frequency; Non-TCS. 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.
May 7, 2024Routine1 foundationall corrected on siteB°
This establishment is not participating in the award program at this time and had _0__ Priority, __1_ Priority Foundation violations on this inspection. No County legal action will result from this inspection. Emailed report and confirmed. On July 1st, 2023, the Environmental Services Department started emailing permit card(s) and permitinvoice(s) to permittees. We need a current and accurate email address on file to ensure you receive acopy 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.Award: Not Participating,Embargo Lbs: 1,Review Complete: CHECKED,Review Notes: QA - MB,Signer: GABRIELLA TORRES
Priority Foundation-3-501.17, Pf: Ready-To-Eat Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food - Date Marking. 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/4125/Food-SafetyOperator-Resources. Large plastic container of ceviche and container of cooked pozole with pork made in house on 5/5 per manager without benefit of date marking. Manager date marked ceviche and chose to dispose of pozole. Discussed importance of date marking all TCS foods to insure disposed at 7 days. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
Jan 8, 2024RoutinecleanA°
This establishment is not participating in the award program at this time and had _0__ Priority, __0_ Priority Foundation violations on this inspection. No County legal action will result from this inspection. Emailed report and confirmed. Core-2-102.12(A), C: Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM). No proof of food manager certification available at time of inspection for manager on duty. Obtain the certificate and keep on site to fulfill requirement that a CFPM is always present during all hours of operation.On July 1st, 2023, the Environmental Services Department started emailing permit card(s) and permitinvoice(s) to permittees. We need a current and accurate email address on file to ensure you receive acopy 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.Award: Not Participating,Signer: SERGIO DIAZ
2023
Oct 24, 2023Routine1 coreall corrected on siteA°
This establishment is not participating in the award program at this time and had _0__ Priority, __0_ Priority Foundation violations on this inspection. No County legal action will result from this inspection. Emailed report and confirmed. On July 1st, 2023, the Environmental Services Department started emailing permit card(s) and permitinvoice(s) to permittees. We need a current and accurate email address on file to ensure you receive acopy 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.Award: Not Participating,Signer: SERGIO DIAZ
Core-5-501.115, C: Maintaining Refuse Areas and Enclosures. Excessive debris including opened bags of garbage, used paper boats, plates and plastic utensils on ground around dumpster enclosure. Clean and maintain. Employee cleaned area. Correct By: Corrected At 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 →