A Chinese buffet and a gas-station food mart both failed county health inspections and were put on provisional license status in October.
Both passed follow-up inspections, according to the Pima County Health Department.
● China Star of Tucson, 4790 E. Grant Road
The temperature of sliced melons and a container of squid salad in the buffet line were measured at 53 degrees, according to an inspection report dated Oct. 2. Potentially hazardous food must be held at 41 degrees or lower.
An employee washed dishware using water, but no soap, the report says. Employees also did not demonstrate the proper handwashing technique.
Two cans of WD-40 were stored near food ingredients and dishware, but chemicals should be segregated to prevent contamination, according to the report. Also, WD-40, an industrial lubricant, is not considered safe for use on any food equipment.
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There was excessive grease around the store's grease container and trash bin, the report says.
China Star passed a follow-up inspection Oct. 17.
Reached by a reporter, the restaurant's owner said she would call back Friday to comment but failed to do so.
● Ajo Chevron and Food Mart, 2001 N. Ajo Gila Bend Highway
Raw chicken and other food items were not kept cold enough, according to an inspection report dated Oct. 29.
The food mart had a handwashing sink at the front counter, but not one in the back where food preparation takes place, according to the report. Tongs used for hot dogs, dill pickles and chicken were being washed only once a day when it's required they be washed every four hours, the report says. The food mart had installed equipment and made menu changes without notifying the Health Department.
Most of the violations were "maintenance problems and not as much the quality of the food," said manager Bruce Owens.
Many of the violations were immediately corrected, Owens said. But others require equipment and that will take time to acquire, he said. Ajo Chevron passed a follow-up inspection on Friday.
In NEED of IMPROVEMENT
These food establishments scored "Needs Improvement" on their last unannounced inspection:
Alvaro Tacos y Hot Dogs (mobile food unit), 6231 S. Sixth Ave.
Billie's Fried Chicken (mobile food unit), 2528 S. Forgeus Stravenue
Cahuamanta y Mariscos San Carlos (mobile food unit), 3969 E. Nico Lane
Chano's Hot Dogs (mobile food unit), 3836 E. Benson Highway
El Dorado Restaurant, 1949 S. Fourth Ave.
El Gallo de Sinaloa Hot Dogs (mobile food unit), 5546 S. Irving Drive
El Gorrion Burrito (mobile food unit), 3459 S. 12th Ave.
La Indita Cafe, 622 N. Fourth Ave.
Little Caesars Pizza, 1625 W. Valencia Road
Lynn/Urquides Elementary School, 1573 W. Ajo Way
Maria Bonita Restaurant, 5851 N. Oracle Road
Mely's Mexican Foods (mobile food unit), 6022 S. Nelco Place
Metropolitan Grill, 7892 N. Oracle Road
Safeway, 1301 W. Duval Mine Road
Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper St.
Southwest Desert Dogs (mobile food unit), 10210 E. Discovery Drive
Tacos Mi Delicia (mobile food unit), 5634 E. 24th St.
Taqueria La Guera (mobile food unit), 3590 W. Center Mountain Way
Taqueria Rositas & Taqueria Rositas II (mobile food unit), 4389 E. Ocotillo Desert Trail
Weeners by the Beeners (mobile food unit), 1907 W. River View Road
CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE
These food establishments inspected last month scored "Excellent" on their last three inspections:
Restaurants
Café 54 at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way
Cafe Poca Cosa, 110 E. Pennington St.
Candela Restaurant Latin American Cuisine, 5845 N. Oracle Road
Dairy Queen, 100 S. Sarnoff Drive
Great Wall of China Restaurant, 2445 S. Craycroft Road
Lani's Luau, 2532 S. Harrison Road
Mama Louisa's Italian Restaurant, 2041 S. Craycroft Road
Panda Express, 4500 N. Oracle Road
Pizza Hut, 2943 N. Campbell Ave.
Runway Bar & Grill, 2101 S. Alvernon Way
Subway, 10565 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley
Non-restaurants
Alano Club, 4405 E. Pima St.
Catalina Mart, 5 S. Houghton Road
Centennial Elementary School, 2200 W. Wetmore Road
Choc-Alot, 6350 E. Broadway
Diamond Shamrock, 920 E. 22nd St.
Flowing Wells High School, 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road
Fry's Food Store, 4036 N. First Ave.
Gale Elementary School, 678 S. Gollob Road
Hanson's Good to Go, 6295 E. 22nd St.
Heavenly Spreadables, 5033 E. Fifth St.
Homer Davis Head Start, 4258 N. Romero Road
J&C Food Service, 6101 E. 22nd St.
Jasmine's Market, 2516 N. Campbell Ave.
Kids First Preschool & Childcare, 8185 E. 22nd St.
Kids First Preschool & Childcare, 5316 E. Pima St.
Learning Bee Preschool, 3975 E. 22nd St.
Marana Middle School, 11279 W. Grier Road
Northwest Head Start, 2160 N. Sixth Ave.
Pima Community College East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington Road.
Quick Stuff, 5000 E. Valencia Road
Safeway, 9460 E. Golf Links Road
Santa Catalina Villas, 7500 N. Calle Sin Envidia
Schumaker Elementary School, 501 N. Maguire Ave.
Steele Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Drive
Sunflower Farmers Market, 4645 E. Speedway
Sweet Factory, 4500 N. Oracle Road.
Trader Joe's, 4209 N. Campbell Ave.
Trader Joe's, 7912 N. Oracle Road
Unicorn Sports Lounge, 8060 E. 22nd St.
Van Horne Elementary School, 7550 E. Pima St.
Wakefield Middle School, 101 W. 44th St.
Walter Douglas Head Start, 3232 N. Flowing Wells Road
Water Street Station Inc., 3952 N. First Ave.
Wheeler Elementary School, 1818 S. Avenida del Sol
This list from the Pima County Health Department does not include establishments that earned a "Good" rating, nor those that earned an "Excellent" rating this time unless it was the third "Excellent" rating in a row.