The Tamale Store
A15842 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix 85032
Food Establishment - Food Production · Permit FD-61745
Score based on 10 scored inspections on record, weighted toward recent visits (one-year half-life). How scoring works
County record last checked Sep 24, 2026.
Score over time
Inspection history10 on record
2026
Sep 10, 2026RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
May 28, 2026RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Feb 26, 2026RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
2025
Sep 29, 2025RoutinecleanA
No County legal action will result from this inspection.*******Kitchen not preparing/jarring salsas at the time of inspection. Reviewed HAACP procedures and most recent logs from 9/15/25 and 8/5/25.*****Discussed use of rapid cooling equipment such as walk-in refrigerators, freezers, ice baths, and ice wands when starting the cooling process for TCS foods.****Reviewed critical limits for cooling: Cooling cooked TCS food must be cooled from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and from 135°F to 41°F or less within a total of 6 hours.
Jun 25, 2025RoutinecleanA
No violations noted at time of inspection. Discussed the process for food preparation and cooling. Emailed cooling handouts. Reviewed the variance logs: 5/27/2025, 4/28/2025, 2/10/2025.No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Feb 10, 2025RoutinecleanA
No County legal action will result from this inspection.
2024
Oct 28, 2024Routine1 priority1 foundationall corrected on siteB
No County legal action will result from this inspection.***Reviewed approved cooling methods with management. Recommended purchasing ice wands.
Inspector's notes
-- In 3-compartment sink, observed dishes in sanitizer compartment submerged in water with a chlorine concentration measuring less than 50ppm. Reviewed chlorine concentration requirements with management: between 50ppm-100ppm. At the time of inspection, the PIC added chlorine to the water and the concentration measured at a minimum of 50ppm. 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.
Inspector's notes
-- Observed employee wearing fingernail polish chopping cilantro for salsa with bare hands and without gloves. The person in charge (PIC) stated the cilantro is not considered ready-to-eat and it will be heated to add to a salsa. Discussed with the PIC glove usage requirements for food employees: gloves required for employees working with exposed food if wearing fingernail polish; or wearing artificial nails. Requested at the time of inspection the employee wash their hands and place on gloves prior to continuing task. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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2-302.11 - Priority Foundation: Maintenance-Fingernails. 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.
Jul 25, 2024RoutinecleanA°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Jan 30, 2024RoutinecleanA
This establishment received a(n) A Grade 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. Core-2-102.12(A), C: Certified Food Protection ManagerAt the time of inspection, food safety managers certification not available. Ensure person in charge (PIC) obtains food safety managers certification and maintains it available for inspection.Kitchen not preparing/jarring salsas at the time of inspection. Reviewed HAACP procedures and most recent logs from 1/22/24.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-RequestForm-181.Award: A,Signer: Pauline P.
2023
Sep 27, 2023Routine1 coreall corrected on siteA
This establishment received a(n) A Grade and had 0 Priority, 0 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.Core-2-102.12(A), C: Certified Food Protection Manager----The PIC is not a certified food protection manager. Maricopa County requires all establishments that serve open food, which requires time/temperature control for food safety, to have at least one certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) on staff. The Person in Charge shall be a CFPM and is required to be onsite during the hours of operation. This certificate must be visible or readily accessible and kept at the establishment for all inspections.Kitchen was not preparing/jarring salsa at time of inspection. Discussed HAACP procedures and reviewed pH calibration. Reviewed HACCP logs for 8/6/23, 9/15/23, and 9/25/23.Emailed the inspection report.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.Award: A,Signer: Martha Castillo
Core-4-603.16, C: Rinsing Procedures---Employee at three compartment sink not rinsing equipment between washing and sanitizing. Employee was instructed to rinse items and did so. Ensure that equipment is properly rinsed off to remove detergents, abrasive, and food debris after the wash step to avoid diluting or inactivating the sanitizer. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
This address holds 4 food permits
Maricopa County issues a separate permit for each kitchen rather than for each restaurant name, so large properties hold several. Each is inspected and scored on its own. The county does not publish which kitchen serves which venue.
Nearby restaurants
Other places to eat within a short walk, with their current scores.
- 100Rainbow DonutsA15834 N Cave Creek Rd · 100 m away
- 95Cave Creek ChevronB15827 N Cave Creek Rd · 110 m away
- 96QuikTripA°2420 E Greenway Pkwy · 180 m away
- 92Dillingers Bar & GrillA15615 N Cave Creek Rd · 190 m away
- 84Valle Luna Mexican FoodC°16048 N Cave Creek Rd · 240 m away
- 94Tortoise Tea HouseA°2418 E Greenway Rd · 460 m away
- 99Variant CoffeeA15244 N Cave Creek Rd · 530 m away
- —Mariscos Bella Vista15232 N Cave Creek Rd · 550 m away
Data from Maricopa County Environmental Services public records, last checked Sep 24, 2026. Grades marked with ° are computed equivalents for establishments not participating in the county's voluntary grading program. View official county records →