Tacos El Paisa
A1259 E Southern Ave, Mesa 85204
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking · Permit FD-62118
Score based on 9 scored inspections on record, weighted toward recent visits (one-year half-life). How scoring works
County record last checked Sep 21, 2026.
Score over time
Inspection history9 on record
2026
Jul 21, 2026Routine1 coreA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Copy of inspection provided to PIC via email.
Inspector's notes
Observed plastic/metal bowl containers being used as scoops and stored inside dry storage bins/spice containers. Use food grade scoops with handles and keep handles out of food and ice. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
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3-304.12 - Core: In-Use Utensils, Between-Use Storage Predefined Comment: In-use utensils must be stored in a clean, dry location; in running water; or in hot water above 135°F. If utensils are stored in food, the handles must be stored above the surface of the food. All in-use utensils were properly stored at time of inspection.
Apr 2, 2026RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Copy of inspection provided to PIC via email.
2025
Sep 5, 2025RoutinecleanA
report emailed.Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
May 20, 2025Routine2 priority1 foundationall corrected on siteC°
report emailed.Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
pans of refried beans checked in the cookline steam table, temperature at 109-121 deg f . informed kitchen manager. all removed and reheated to 165 deg f. please monitor proper hot holding. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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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. 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.
Inspector's notes
At the facility front area self service salsa bar, observed on site prepared red salsas, green salsas at 54 deg f . informed manager on duty. The salsa bar utilizes ice bath. manager refilled ice bins levels , and added fresh salsa to self service bins. Please ensure rte/tcs food is kept at 41 deg f . utilizing smaller /shallower salsa pans reviewed as well. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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Predefined Comment: Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below. Eggs not treated to destroy Salmonellae can be stored in equipment that maintains an ambient air temperature of 45°F or below. 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.
Inspector's notes
observed pans of shredded beef, placed atop each other, all covered. checked temperatures. noted at 51 deg f . ( all dated 5-19) informed manager. Suggested to place cooling meats in ice bath, remove covers and place near the fan coolers in both walk-in coolers as needed to ensure rapid cooling established. MCESD cooling guidance document reviewed. also suggested to utilize the upper shelves currently used for bread/tortilla storage as an additional cooling shelves. manager removed tcs food Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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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. 3-501.15 (A) - Priority Foundation: Cooling Methods. 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.
Feb 3, 2025Routine1 coreall corrected on siteA
report emailed. facility manager email updated in Tyler PC.Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
observed some portioned bag of fajita cooked meat, chicken and beef at 44 deg f . also some shredded cheese pan in the cookline overfilled at 47-48 deg f . informed manager. excess food removed. please ensure tcs food is reached and kept at 41 deg f . 41 deg f established . Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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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.
2024
Aug 29, 2024Routine1 priority1 coreB°
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
spoke to facility shift manager, GM, away at another restaurant. please ensure you have a certified food manager for this establishment. MCESD website esd.maricopa.gov resources reviewed.
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Predefined Comment: A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) is required to be on the premises during all hours of operation. 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
Inspector's notes
observed a plastic container with cooked beans, dated 8-28 at 89 deg f . also multiple pans of cooked shredded beef/steak at 47-49 deg f , all date labels indicating 8-28. reviewed facility cooling procedure. 2 tier food cooling reviewed. use of ice bath for hot food pans reviewed. also pans of refried beans at 98 deg f inside the walk-in cooler. suggested to place the cooling food/tcs in additional ice bath, and utilize the facility salsa walk-in cooler to ensure 41 deg f reached. Department cooling guidance document reviewed and emailed to pic.
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Predefined Comment: TCS foods prepared from cold or ambient room temperature ingredients must be cooled from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Predefined Comment: All TCS foods improperly cooled were discarded by PIC at time of inspection. Predefined Comment: Cooked TCS foods must be cooled from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, and from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours for a total of 6 hours for cooling. PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.14 - Priority: Cooling. 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.
May 6, 2024Routine1 priorityall corrected on siteB°
This establishment is not participating in the award program at this time and had 1_ Priority, _ 0Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.No County legal action will result from this inspection.report 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,Embargo Lbs: 200,Signer: Mrs. Daisey, and Nereida-staff on duty
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 pans of sliced, and diced cooked beef at 50-51 deg f . informed manager. all discarded. please ensure rte/tcs is kept at 41 deg f . see embargo Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
Jan 26, 2024RoutinecleanA
This establishment received a(n) _A Grade and had _0 Priority, 0_ Priority Foundation on this inspection.No County legal action will result from this inspection.report emailed.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.Award: A,Review Complete: CHECKED,Review Notes: QA-RLC corrected time,Signer: Irene-staff on duty
2023
Sep 19, 2023RoutinecleanA
This establishment received a(n) _A Grade and had _0 Priority, 0_ Priority Foundation on this inspection.No County legal action will result from this inspection.report emailed.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.Award: A,Signer: Irene-staff on duty
Nearby restaurants
Other places to eat within a short walk, with their current scores.
- 86Lenny's BurgerB°1245 E Southern Ave · 40 m away
- 98La MichoacanaA1245 E Southern Ave · 40 m away
- 100Circle K StoreA1203 E Southern Ave · 90 m away
- 98El SuperA°1251 E Southern Ave · 110 m away
- 94Panda ExpressA1210 E Southern Ave · 100 m away
- 100Terros HealthA1111 S Stapley Dr · 200 m away
- 95Taco BellB1131 S Stapley Dr · 190 m away
- 80Neveria Chay'os MesaC°1134 S Stapley Dr · 210 m away
Data from Maricopa County Environmental Services public records, last checked Sep 21, 2026. Grades marked with ° are computed equivalents for establishments not participating in the county's voluntary grading program. View official county records →