Pho Cao
A°7436 E Mcdowell Rd, Scottsdale 85257
Food Establishment · Permit FD-43082
Score based on 10 scored inspections on record, weighted toward recent visits (one-year half-life). How scoring works
County record last checked Sep 23, 2026.
Score over time
Inspection history10 on record
2026
Mar 24, 2026Re-InspectioncleanA°
No County legal action will result from this inspection.Upon re-inspection, all violations due for correction have been corrected. Received pest control invoice via email from owner Victor on Friday, 3/20 showing a service for small flies. Invoice attached in PC.
Mar 17, 2026Routine1 priority1 foundationB°
No County legal action will result from this inspection.Establishment will be changing ownership on April 1st, 2026.
Inspector's notes
Observed more than 15 small flies in the bar area, and less than 5 in the back of house. Establishment must be maintained free of pests, and all pest control measures must be conducted by a licensed pest control specialist. Please email the pest control invoice for drain flies by Friday, March 27th to the inspector. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.
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6-501.111 (C) - Priority Foundation: Controlling Pests; Approved Trapping Methods/Existence
Inspector's notes
Observed shrimp stored in a grocery bag in a freezer in the back of house, observed flour stored in a trash bag, inside of a large bin, near the mop sink area, observed a trash bag used as a cover over vegetables in the walk-in cooler. Use of non-food grade bags (including to-go bags and trash bags) is not approved for storage of open food items to prevent migration of deleterious substances. PIC removed the trash and grocery bags. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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PRIORITY VIOLATION-4-102.11 (A)(1) and (B)(1) - Priority: Characteristics-Single-Service and Single-Use; Migration of Deleterious Substances; Safe
2025
Nov 3, 2025Routine1 coreA°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed employees using latex gloves for food handling during inspection. Please ensure all gloves used in contact with food are latex free. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
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MCEHC Chap. 8, Sec. 2, Reg. 5a - Latex gloves may not be used in direct contact with food.
Inspector's notes
Bottom corners of most walls in main cooking area do not have any base coving at floor junction. Please ensure wall to floor junctions have a coved base for easy cleaning. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection. 6-501.12 - Core: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Addl Notes: Observed food and grease debris buildup below cooking equipment in kitchen area. Please ensure areas are cleaned at a frequency to prevent this accumulation. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
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6-201.13 - Core: Floor and Wall Junctures, Coved, and Enclosed or Sealed
Jul 9, 2025Routine2 priority1 coreC°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Discussed ensuring handwashing sinks are easily accessible, datemarking TCS foods after 24 hours, cleaning frequency, comingling of personal food items with establishment food and organization for continued training.
Inspector's notes
Observed bowl of uncovered raw beef stored above drinks in walk-in cooler. Person in charge moved to bottom shelf.
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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. Predefined Comment: 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 properly stored all raw animal proteins according to the final cooking temperature based on the cooking parameters in § 3-401.11 of the Food Code. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed pho broth at 128 deg F out on cooling cart. Per PIC broth was going back to the cookline for hot holding.
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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. Predefined Comment: Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 135°F or above. Predefined Comment: All TCS foods improperly hot held were reheated to 165°F at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed sliced beef and cooked chicken in cooling process at 47 to 48 deg F in closed plastic containers stacked on top of each other in walk-in cooler. PIC unstacked and removed lids for proper cooling.
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3-501.15 (B) - Core: Cooling Methods; Covered and Properly Arranged Containers. 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. Predefined Comment: TCS foods must be cooled in: uncovered/loosely covered, shallow containers less than 4 inches deep, in equipment designed to rapidly cool, by using an ice bath, by using ice as an ingredient, or another effective means.
Feb 26, 2025Routine1 priorityall corrected on siteB°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed sever touch ready to eat bean sprout salads with hands.
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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. Predefined Comment: RTE food that was contacted by bare hands was discarded by PIC at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection. Inspector embargoed food product.
2024
Oct 3, 2024Routine1 foundation6 coreB°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed facility without a certified food manager present during hours of operation.
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Repeat Violation 2-102.12(A) - Core: Certified Food Protection Manager. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these resources on our website. https://www.maricopa.gov/5114/Food-Restaurants Predefined Comment: A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) is required to be on the premises during all hours of operation. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection. Providing a certified food manager during all hours of operation.
Inspector's notes
Observed a food employee bowl of food stored next to clean plates and utensils for consumers at the prep table across from the grill station.
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2-401.11 - Core: Eating, Drinking, or Using Tobacco Predefined Comment: To ensure food safety, prevent physical contamination and the transmission of disease; employee eating, drinking, beverage storage, and using tobacco must be done in an approved area. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection, by removing food from prep table and storing it in the employee area located in the reach in cooler stored in the rear of the facility across from the office. Food employee sanitized prep table and washed hands.
Inspector's notes
Observed in the knife holder intended for clean utensils across from the three compartment sink two butcher knives soiled with organic matter.
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4-601.11(A) - Priority Foundation: Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils. 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. Predefined Comment: All food-contact surfaces must be cleaned to sight and touch. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection, by placing butcher knives in dishwasher.
Inspector's notes
Observed cart used to thaw nine bags of chicken outside the walk-in at the rear of the facility.
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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. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection, by placing thawing chicken in the walk in cooler to continue the thawing process.
Inspector's notes
Observed wet wiping cloths on the prep table across from grill station.
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3-304.14 - Core: Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation Predefined Comment: All wet wiping cloths must be stored in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations. Wiping cloths were placed in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection. Wiping cloths were stored in quaternary sanitizing solution.
Inspector's notes
Observed stove and inside reach in cooler across from stove with soil accumulation.
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4-602.13 - Core: Nonfood Contact Surfaces Predefined Comment: Nonfood-contact surfaces shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris. Nonfood-contact surfaces shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed the facility with soil accumulation underneath stove, reach in coolers and along the cove base molding in the kitchen area.
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6-501.12 - Core: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Predefined Comment: Physical facility must be cleaned frequently enough to prevent accumulation of dirt, organic matter, and food debris. Must clean physical facility prior to next routine inspection.
Jul 18, 2024Routine4 coreA°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed the facility without a certified manager present during the hours of operation.
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2-102.12(A) - Core: Certified Food Protection Manager. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these resources on our website. https://www.maricopa.gov/5114/Food-Restaurants Predefined Comment: A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) is required to be on the premises during all hours of operation. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed facility working condiments containers without common label name.
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3-302.12 - Core: Food Storage Containers Identified with Common Name of Food Predefined Comment: All bulk food items not easily identifiable must be labeled with common name of food. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed two live roaches in the rear of the facility next too the rear door.
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6-501.111 (A-B, D) - Core: Controlling Pests; Monitoring Predefined Comment: Establishment must be maintained free of pests and all pest control measures must be conducted by a licensed pest control specialist. Must eliminate current pest control problem and obtain pest control from a certified and licensed pest control specialist by re-inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Inspector's notes
Observed facility with heavy soil accumulation in the grill area, underneath prep stations, underneath dish machine and in the rear of the facility.
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6-501.12 - Core: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Predefined Comment: Physical facility must be cleaned frequently enough to prevent accumulation of dirt, organic matter, and food debris. Must clean physical facility prior to next routine inspection. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Mar 14, 2024Routine1 priority1 foundation2 coreB°
This establishment is not participating in the award program at this time and had 1 Priority, 0 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.No County legal action will result from this inspection.The Routine Report was emailed.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.Award: Not Participating,Food Manager Licenses: 1,Signer: Edward Mattson
Core-6-301.14, C: Handwashing Signage. 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.>>Observed three handwashing stations without signage>>Handwashing stations shall provide notice to employees to wash hands.>>Inspector provided person in charge with signage notices.>>Corrected at time of inspection Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
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 bag of bean sprouts with a temperature of 56F>>TCS food intended for cold holding shall be held at 41F or below. Bag of bean sprouts were embargoed.>>Corrected at time of inspection Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
Priority Foundation-4-502.11(B), Pf: Good Repair and Calibration>>Observed thermometer not calibrated at the grill line.>>Thermometers shall be calibrated to take proper food temperatures. Calibrate food thermometer.>>Person In Charge provided a digital thermometer.>>Violation corrected at time of inspection Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
Core-6-501.12, C: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions>>Observed throughout the kitchen area soil accumulation>>Facility shall be cleaned with a frequency to prevent soil accumulation.>>Clean facility>>Correction prior to next routine inspection>>2nd repeat violation Correct By: Correct Prior To Next Routine Inspection
2023
Nov 10, 2023Routine3 coreA°
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.Inspection report delivered via email.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.Award: Not Participating,Food Manager Licenses: 1,Signer: Victor Cao
Repeat Violation Core-4-602.11 (E), C: 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. Observed build up of white and pink colored organic growth inside the nozzle of the soda hose at the bar and on the drip tray of the nozzle holster. The person in charge removed the soda nozzle and drip tray for cleaning at the time of inspection. Discussed cleaning frequency of at least every 24 hours or as often as necessary to prevent the accumulation of soils and mold. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection,Repeat Violations: 2nd
Core-3-304.14, C: Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation Observed sanitizer bucket in the bar with 0 ppm quaternary ammonium sanitizer solution. The person in charge disposed of the sanitizer solution and made a new solution with 150- 400 ppm quaternary ammonium. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
Core-6-501.12, C: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Observed build of grease under and around equipment on cook line and splatter of food debris on the back wall behind the prep cooler. Discussed cleaning frequency to prevent the accumulation of spoilage build up. Correct By: Correct Prior To Next Routine Inspection
Aug 17, 2023Routine2 coreA°
This establishment is not participating in the award program at this time and had 0 Priority, 1 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.Priority Foundation-2-501.11, Pf: Clean-up of Vomiting and Diarrheal EventsObserved no bodily fluid clean up kit or written policy for vomit and diarrheal events. Provided the person in charge with a bodily fluid plan guidance and resource link.https://www.maricopa.gov/4125/Food-SafetyOperator-ResourcesNo County legal action will result from this inspection.Inspection report delivered via email.The Environmental Services Department will begin emailing permit card(s) and permit invoice(s) to permittees in the coming months. 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)Note: 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 or call 602-506-6824.Signer: Victor Cao,Award: Not Participating,Food Manager Licenses: 1
Core-4-602.13, C: Nonfood Contact Surfaces Observed the hose nozzle at the bar with black organic matter and sticky residue. The person in charge removed the nozzle then washed rinsed and sanitized it at the time of inspection. Discussed cleaning frequency. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
Core-6-501.12, C: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Observed accumulation of grease, soil/dust, food pieces, and organic matter, under and around equipment on cook line by the fryers. on the wall behind the prep station, and other areas of the establishment. Discussed with the person in charge cleaning frequency and if necessary utilizing a certified vendor to perform deep cleaning. Correct By: Correct Prior To Next Routine Inspection
Nearby restaurants
Other places to eat within a short walk, with their current scores.
- —Pho Cao Kitchen7436 E Mcdowell Rd · 0 m away
- 99Jack in the BoxA7412 E Mcdowell Rd · 40 m away
- 95Bosa DonutsA7444 E Mcdowell Rd · 60 m away
- 90Fiesta BurritoB°7402 E Mcdowell Rd · 90 m away
- 94Arby'sA7350 E Mcdowell Rd · 160 m away
- 94Trevor'sB°7340 E Mcdowell Rd · 210 m away
- 95Church's ChickenB°7538 E Mcdowell Rd · 250 m away
- 91Fatty Daddy's Ice CreamB°1608 N Miller Rd · 250 m away
Data from Maricopa County Environmental Services public records, last checked Sep 23, 2026. Grades marked with ° are computed equivalents for establishments not participating in the county's voluntary grading program. View official county records →