El Pollo Loco
A4728 E Ray Rd, Phoenix 85044
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking · Permit FD-73741
Score based on 9 scored inspections on record, weighted toward recent visits (one-year half-life). How scoring works
County record last checked Sep 17, 2026.
Score over time
Inspection history9 on record
2026
Jul 6, 2026RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Of note: Establishment hand-sink across main walk in unit is out of order. Of note: Establishment has new cold brew product. Reviewed cold holding procedures with establishment.Provided Maricopa County Handout for Cold brew storage and shelf life.
Apr 10, 2026RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.Reviewed and discussed: 9 Food Allergies; food contact cleaning procedures. Recommend: work order to repair AVB and leaks during on setting. Restroom check log. Of note: Establishment has work order to repair hand sink soap dispenser at hand sink closest to main walk in refrigerator.
2025
Oct 7, 2025Routine1 priorityall corrected on siteB
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Chicken tinga-114-115F in the hot holding cabinet at the end of the cookline area. PIC stated that the item was recently placed into hot holding and had the item reheated. Ensure that TCS foods are held at 135F or above in hot holding. 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.
Jul 16, 2025Routine3 priorityall corrected on siteD°
Provided the PIC with when to wash hands handout.Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Inspector's notes
Employee in the cookline area handled personal phone, then went to handle the in use lids on the chicken items in hot holding without washing hands. Employee was asked to wash hands and did so. Ensure that employees wash hands after engaging in activities that may contaminate hands and when changing tasks. 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.
Inspector's notes
Sour cream, guacamole (with tomato), and spring mix-47-53F in the make line unit. PIC stated that all items had been in the unit for an extended amount of time and discarded-see embargo form. Keep TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or below. *Ambient temp of the make line was 40F. 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.
Inspector's notes
Romaine lettuce item-51F on the make line. Time sticker stated that the lettuce was placed onto the make line 3 minutes prior. Shredded lettuce put onto make line at 47F. Second pan of shredded lettuce with no set discard time. Employee stated that the lettuce was put on the line at 9:02AM (Current time was 1:43PM). PIC discarded all items-see embargo form. Ensure that when time temperature control is used for up to four hours that the food has an initial temperature of 41F or below when removed from cold holding and the food is marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time of discard following internal policies not exceeding four hours. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
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PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.19 (B1,3-4; C1,4-5) - Priority: Time as a Public Health Control; Temperature, Discarded. 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.
Feb 4, 2025RoutinecleanA
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
2024
Nov 25, 2024Routine1 coreA
No County legal action will result from this inspection.Discussed Food Catering permit requirements the PIC.
Inspector's notes
Observed pink-orange organic matter on the inside lip of the ice machine. Informed PIC that the ice machine needs to be cleaned and continue to be cleaned at a rate which precludes the accumulation of organic matter growth. All food-contact surfaces must be cleaned to sight and touch. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine 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.
Aug 6, 2024RoutinecleanA
Discussed Food Catering permit requirements the the PIC and provided guidance document.Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Mar 21, 2024Routine1 priorityall corrected on siteB
This establishment received a(n) B Grade and had 1 Priority, 0 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.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.Signer: Maria A.,Award: B
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-301.11, P: Preventing Contamination from Hands; Bare Hand Contact with Ready to Eat Foods. 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.----Employee in the make line area handled a cut avocado with bare hands. Employee was asked to discard the avocado and did so-less than 1 lb. Ensure that employees are limiting contamination of ready to eat foods by wearing gloves or by other approved methods. Correct By: Corrected At Time Of Inspection
2023
Oct 31, 2023RoutinecleanA
This establishment received a(n) A Grade and had 0 Priority, and 0 Priority Foundation violations on this inspection.No County legal action will result from this inspection.Reviewed and discussed: chemical labeling procedures; food contact equipment cleaning procedures. Recommend: maintenance for two door reach in; main walk in unit. All drain pipes need to be 1"inch above drains. Establishment is using time as control for: pico de gallo; and Guacamole. Printed copy of inspection report to the establishment. 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: Maria Altumirure
Nearby restaurants
Other places to eat within a short walk, with their current scores.
- 99Salad and GoA4716 E Ray Rd · 50 m away
- 97Gus's World Famous Fried ChickenA°4723 E Ray Rd · 100 m away
- 99First Watch #1046A°4723 E Ray Rd · 100 m away
- 96Clean EatzA4722 E Ray Rd · 110 m away
- 100Starbucks CoffeeA4734 E Ray Rd · 170 m away
- 99Sprouts Farmers MarketA+4735 E Ray Rd · 240 m away
- 96Oumi SushiA4735 E Ray Rd · 240 m away
- 85Wild Fork FoodsA°4802 E Ray Rd · 220 m away
Data from Maricopa County Environmental Services public records, last checked Sep 17, 2026. Grades marked with ° are computed equivalents for establishments not participating in the county's voluntary grading program. View official county records →