Cockroaches in the kitchen: The worst restaurant inspections in September

Every day, health inspectors travel around Maricopa County to visit restaurants, go behind the scenes and make sure everything is clean and safe.

They publish their findings online, including restaurants that get a perfect score and those that don't. Issues with cleanliness, food and staff safety, hygiene and proper preparation get noted on the reports and must be fixed immediately. Anything that can't be fixed on the spot earns the restaurant a scheduled reinspection.

Issues that pose the greatest risk to patrons or staff get labeled Priority Violations. When restaurants rack up a number of these violations, the inspector doles out a failing grade.

In September, metro-area restaurants struggled with storing foods at proper temperatures, adequate hand washing and in some cases, pest control. These were the worst restaurant inspections last month.

Chou's Kitchen

910 N. Alma School Road, Chandler

On a Sept. 6 inspection, Chou's Kitchen had three priority violations. But the restaurant earned nine different violations in total. The inspector found frozen raw shrimp thawing in a container on the kitchen floor. Inside the walk-in refrigerator, raw lamb, pork, beef and fish were stored on the floor. Raw pork and beef also were found in open containers above vegetables, tofu and noodles, allowing for possible cross-contamination. Knives and counters were visibly dirty with "food debris," the inspector noted.

OG'z The Original Empanada Shop

21824 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek

Seven priority violations were noted on a Sept. 12 inspection at OG'z. Raw eggs were stored above cooked foods in the refrigerator. The inspector watched as a cook rinsed off a saute pan in the dish pit before hanging it up as clean. Beans were not cooled properly, pork was not heated property, and salsa in the salsa bar was warm. In the walk-in, the inspector also found out-of-date banana pudding, 12-day-old salsa and multiple containers of food without any dates.

Hachi Ramen

655 W. Warner Road, #114, Tempe

At Hachi Ramen in Tempe, an inspector noted four priority violations on their Sept. 10 inspection. Along with employees touching food with bare hands and eggs stored above pork, containers of food were stored on the floor. Chicken was stored inside "Thank You" grocery bags, according to the report, and a "very heavy accumulation of grease" was found on the vent and wall below. A spray can of ant, roach and spider killer was found near the mop sink.

King Pin Grill & Pizza

8925 N. 12th St.

At King Pin Grill & Pizza, staff couldn't answer the inspector's questions about the origin of some pulled pork. The meat was stored in a "clear household Tupperware container with no label or other markings." According to the report, "The person in charge stated the pulled pork is obtained from an unknown source, prepared in an unknown location." There was another bag of meat with no date marking, and meat inside the reach-in cooler had "yellow-colored organic matter" on it. Continuing the theme of unmarked items, there were also unlabeled bottles of chemicals.

Zipps Sports Grill

690 S. Mill Ave., #103, Tempe

At Zippa Sports Grill's large Mill Avenue location, a Sept. 17 inspection showed some issues in the kitchen, worsened by the fact that staff knew about the problems. The inspector pointed out that raw chicken and raw ground beef patties were too warm; they were stored in the top drawer of a broken refrigerator. On the lower shelf, staff had put ice in containers in an attempt to keep the meat cold, which had not worked. In the bar area of the eatery, the inspector watched a bartender dip a glass into the wash bin "for two seconds" before putting it on the drying rack as clean. In addition, raw sirloin was found stored above sauces and dressings.

The Grille at Lone Tree Golf Club

6262 S. Mountain Blvd., Chandler

On Sept. 24, an inspector found four priority violations at the Grille at Lone Tree Golf Club. An employee handled dirty dishes and then touched clean dishes without washing their hands. There was a dirty deli slicer and nearly two-week-old ham. Chicken wings, sausage, hot dogs, chicken, ham and bratwurst were all stored at temperatures warmer than safety requirements.

Brave Korean BBQ

1743 E. Broadway Road, Tempe

At Brave Korean BBQ in Tempe, a Sept. 24 inspection found a precarious situation. In the prep area, an open container of hydrogen peroxide was stored above packages of chocolate soft serve ice cream powder base. Also, raw eggs were stored over bottles of water and other foods. Under the dish pit, the inspector found a can of chemical flying insect killer. All insect and pest-removal services are legally required to be provided by a professional exterminator.

Hon Machi Sushi & Cocktails

1949 W. Ray Road, Chandler

All restaurants need to be clean. But restaurants that serve raw fish need to pay extra attention to food safety practices. At Hon Machi Sushi & Cocktails in Chandler, a Sept. 26 inspection painted a different picture. Raw pork and chicken were stored above vegetables, fish cakes and other fish in the refrigerator. There was no chlorine in the dishwasher. And the inspector noted, "a buildup of food debris and grease under various pieces of equipment, floor drains and walls behind equipment throughout the establishment."

Beast of Bourbon Bar & Grill

2235 S. Power Road, #127, Mesa

At Beast of Bourbon Bar & Grill, a Sept. 27 inspection found some unwelcome beasts in the kitchen. The inspector saw "dead German cockroaches throughout the kitchen floors." A cockroach-killing powder also was found. Other issues included raw ground beef stored above other foods in the walk-in refrigerator. Raw chicken and beef were stored in ziplock bags in the same container. "Organic debris" was found on the soda spray nozzle and ice machine, food residue was seen on the cheese shredder and a "heavy accumulation" of black grease, debris and dust was noted in the filters above the stove and fryers. Garlic parmesan sauce, al pastor and bone marrow were all found to be out of date.