12 Metro Phoenix Restaurants Earned a 'D' from the County Health Department in November

Bare hands, food temperature issues, organic matter, and more — it's time to check out which restaurants in the Valley didn't do so well in inspections by the county health department. This month saw a lot of chain restaurants including Zipp's, El Pollo Loco, and Village Inn earn a "D" grade. Even a Walmart market made the cut.

Check this month's list to find out what's really happening in some metro Phoenix kitchens: 

Zipp's Sports Grill, Phoenix (3647 East Indian School Road) 

"Observed two bottle sprayers with detergents in them at the kitchen without label. Working containers used for storing poisonous or toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material."

Einstein Bros Bagels, Phoenix (4030 East Thunderbird Road Suite E)

"Employee at register with gloves then handled bagel, removed gloves, answered phone, and donned new gloves to continue making a sandwich without washing hands. Instructed employee to discard bagel, wash hands, and don new gloves to continue making a sandwich."

Walmart Neighborhood Market, Mesa (8335 East Guadalupe Road)

"Tightly covered containers of cooked General Tso's chicken held in walk-in and cooled for more than 6 hours, per label and manager, at 50-54*F internally. Embargoed, manager discarded."

El Pollo Loco, Gilbert (4091 South Gilbert Road)

"Employee picked equipment up off of the floor area and went to handle food items 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."

Dunkin' Donuts, Phoenix (9140 West Thomas Road)

"Observed hash browns in the hot holding unit above the make line holding at 110F. Manager discarded product. Manager turned up the temperature of the unit. Foods for hot holding need to be at 135F."

Krua Thai Cuisine, Phoenix (1601 E Bell Road)

"Observed raw shrimp and raw pork being stored over various containers of raw vegetables in the reach-in refrigerator located near the prep sink. Observed raw chicken being stored over vegetable spring rolls in the refrigerated make table across from the grill. Observed no signs of cross contamination at time of inspection."

Village Inn, Mesa (1859 South Stapley Drive)

"Employee observed handling ready to eat foods (bread) with bare hands. Employee was asked to discard all ready to eat food that was touched with bare hands, properly wash hands, and put on gloves. Ensure that employees are limiting contamination of ready to eat foods by wearing gloves or by other approved methods."

Ramiro's Mexican Food, Phoenix (623 East Roeser Road)

"Observed the trash receptacle overflowing with trash. The person in charge was aware of the situation and is actively working with their trash company to have the issue resolved. Please ensure that garbage is picked up frequently enough to allow the lids to be closed with all garbage inside."

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Tempe (2100 South Priest Drive)

"Observed an ice machine within the kitchen with organic matter inside the deflector plate. Manager washed, rinsed and sanitized. Clean as needed, to prevent any build up of organic matter."

Circle K Store, Mesa (425 S Crismon Road)

"Observed back handwashing sink in the soda box room that had a lid to a trash can on top of the sink at the time of the inspection. Informed person in charge that handwashing sinks must be clear and available at all times. Trash can lid was moved at the time of the inspection."

Carniceria Sonora, Tempe (3135 South 48th Street Suite 107)

"Observed several pans of cooked beef, rice, chicharon [sic] and corn in the walk in cooler from yesterday missing the date they were made. In a deli case there was ham which had been opened yesterday missing the date it was opened. Food handling employee provided date marking labels for all products that were cooked and when the packages were opened with a discard date of 7 days from when the product was cooked/opened."

Rosati's, Mesa (1309 North Greenfield Road)

"Wet wiping cloth left on the pizza cutting boards. facility has designated sanitizer buckets. manager removed wet cloth. please store wet wiping cloth during use and place in sanitizer solution."