El Pelon
Last inspected: Apr 7, 2026
90
Score
Inspectors have visited El Pelon eight times, with records going back to 2022. El Pelon was last inspected on Apr 7, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around three violations compared to roughly five violations earlier on.
Across the inspection history, “cutting surfaces” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.
Compared to the broader Brighton restaurant scene, this is about average. The record reflects steady performance over time.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 7, 2026
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Nonfood contact surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Interior and exterior of some refrigerating equipment soiled. Hand sinks on both levels with soiled exterior. -- Clean properly.
590.004/4-602.13-C
Cleaning floors dustless methods (c)
Inspector notes: Floor under and around cooking line soiled. Floor at lower level at soda section and under shelves soiled. -- Clean all properly.
590.006/6-501.13-C
90
Oct 10, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal events (pf)
Inspector notes: No procedures or supplies for clean up of V&D events. Handout provided.
590.002/2-501.11-PF
Surface characteristics-indoor areas (c)
Inspector notes: Restroom walls with damaged wall surfaces and peeling paint. Clean and resurface. Hole in wall next to stairs leading to basement. Repair.
590.006/6-101.11-C
Thawing (c)
Inspector notes: Raw steak thawing in container of still water in basement. Thaw product under continously runnnig water 70F or less.
590.003/3-501.13-C
82
Jan 6, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (p)
Inspector notes: Multiple containers of raw chicken stored on shelving above produce and pork Corrected on site Store products properly
590.003/3-302.11-P
Characteristics-materials for construction and repair (c)
Inspector notes: Bulk food containers cracked and repaired with duct tape- Make proper repairs or replace
590.004/4-101.11-C
Cleaning ventilation systems nuisance and discharge prohibition (c)
Inspector notes: Hood sticker expired 12/24 Schedule hood cleaning/inspection
590.006/6-501.14-C
78
May 30, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Cooling (p)
Inspector notes: Products in the walkin refrigeration unit including cooked pork and cooked vegetables with temperatures above 41F The container of cooked pork with heavy condensation on the tight fitting lid and cooled fat on the top of the products at 67F The container of cooked vegetables again with heavy condensation on the tightly closed lid was at 56F Per datemarking and confirmation by employees the products were made yesterday 05/29/24. Both products were removed at this time and voluntarily discarded by the PIC Reviewed proper cooling procedures at this time- Review with staff
590.003/3-501.14-P
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: Cutting boards stored in the lower level with heavy scoring and soils- Repair or replace
590.004/4-501.12-C
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Mop sink in the lower level is not properly draining- Plumber scheduled to be on site today Make proper repairs
590.005/5-205.15-C
78
Dec 7, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Reheating for hot holding (p)
Inspector notes: Beef 130F Chicken 121F placed for hot holding. Unit 161F. Reheat properly befrore placing for hot holding. PIC removed food for immidiate reheating.
590.003/3-403.11-P
Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)
Inspector notes: No sanitizer test strip for the QUAT sanitizer. Provide.
590.004/4-302.14-PF
Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food date marking (pf)
Inspector notes: Several food items without date marking. Provide.
590.003/3-501.17-PF
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Handsink at the three bay sink used to store soiled utensils. Discontinue use for handwashing only.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
System maintained in good repair (c)
Inspector notes: Three Bay Sink - Leaking from the bottom pipe. Repair.
590.005/5-205.15-C
Handwashing signage (c)
Inspector notes: Hand sink at lower level and toilet without signage. Provide.
590.006/6-301.14-C
58
May 15, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Pork in hot holding unit between 99F to 110F. PIC will need to review with staff to have food at 135F or higher. Also food should be reheated to 165F before put into hot holding unit.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)
Inspector notes: Clean floor in basement under stairs and shelves. Monitor for evidence of rodent droppings. Clean under stairs so pest control can do a thorough inspection. All holes from pipes or wires will need to be blocked in ceiling and should be monitored by pest control
590.006/6-201.11-C
Cutting surfaces (c)
Inspector notes: As discussed please clean to remove stains in cutting boards on cooking line. If can not be removed replace board.
590.004/4-501.12-C
Wiping cloths use limitation (c)
Inspector notes: PIC will need to review with staff to have sanitizer buckets set up for wiping clothes.
590.003/3-304.14-C
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Large bulk food containers in basement will need to have labels as discussed.
590.003/3-302.12-C
Ventilation hood systems filters (c)
Inspector notes: Hood filters on cooking line will need to be cleaned. Hood sticker good until this month. Have hood cleaned and new sticker provided.
590.004/4-202.18-C
67
Oct 27, 2022
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
(a)(2) and (b) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Serving Line- Fish 55F Guacamole 56F Shredded Cheese 54 Salsa 54F. PIC stated unit out of order. Food placed on ice an hour ago but not mantaining temperature. PIC removed the food to the other refrigerating unit. Mantain at 41F or below.
590.003/3-501.16-P
Cooling heating and holding capacities-equipment (pf)
Inspector notes: Refrigerating unit at the serving line out of order. Repair.
590.004/4-301.11-PF
Rinsing procedures (c)
Inspector notes: Observed sanitizing bay with solution soiled with food debris. Rinse bay not set up. Provide proper warewashing including proper rinsing before saniting.
590.004/4-603.16-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Box with take-out containers and some canned sodas placed on the floor at the lower level. Elevate properly.
590.003/3-305.11-C
70
May 3, 2022
Routine
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment chemical sanitization-temperature ph concentration and hardness (p)
Inspector notes: No evidence of proper warewashing. Wash and Sanitizing Bay set and in use the rinse bay used to place soiled pots. Discontinue. Set up properly three bay sink (including rinse bay) and perform proper warewashing all the time (wash rinse sanitize).
590.004/4-501.114-P
Sanitizers criteria-chemicals (p)
Inspector notes: Sanitizer at three bay sink registered QUATs 500ppm+. Mantain between 200-400ppm.
590.007/7-204.11-P
(a)(1) time/temperature control for safety food hot and cold holding (p)
Inspector notes: Hot Holding unit at serving line- Beef 121F Chicken 115F. Unit 165F. Per PIC-Food cooked this morning 90 minutes ago. Mantain at 135F or above. PIC placed food for immediate reheating at 165F or above.
590.003/3-501.16-P1
Using a handwashing sink-operation and maintenance (pf)
Inspector notes: Observed hand sinks at cooking line and prep area used to store soiled utensils. Discontinue. Use for handwashing only.
590.005/5-205.11-PF
(a)-(p) person-in-charge-duties (pf)
Inspector notes: Retrain staff with regard to proper hot holding handsink usage and proper warewashing.
590.002(D)/2-103.11-PF
Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)
Inspector notes: Two large containers used to store bulk food items at lower level without labels. Provide.
590.003/3-302.12-C
Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)
Inspector notes: Observed open/used bags with bulk food items at lower level. Once open store properly in enclosed commercial grade containers.
590.003/3-305.11-C
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Pelon last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Pelon on file is from Apr 7, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Pelon?
Across the inspection record, “cutting surfaces” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Pelon.
How does El Pelon compare to other restaurants in Brighton?
El Pelon most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is about the same as the Brighton average of 88.
Has El Pelon's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at El Pelon have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at El Pelon means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is El Pelon inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Pelon is inspected around two times per year on average.
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