Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe

5101 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Mexican / Latin

License: Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Last inspected: Feb 24, 2026

Score

Low Risk

The health department has logged eight inspections at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe, the earliest from 2024. Inspectors last stopped by on Feb 24, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near one violation per visit.

Across the inspection history, “cooling, heating, and holding capacities-equipment” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.

Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe's latest score of 90 falls below the Phoenix average of 97. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 24, 2026

Routine

1 major violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

Warewashing sink compartments insufficient or improperly set up (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Establishment stores salsa in large plastic bins which are too large to be cleaned in 3 compartment sink or warewashing machine. Current bins will be not be used and will be replaced with a smaller alternative that can be properly cleaned between uses. Please ensure 3 compartment sink is large enough to accommodate at least 50% of the largest piece of food contact equipment used

4-301.12(A-B)

Nov 25, 2025

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Nov 18, 2025

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Equipment lacks capacity to maintain safe food temperatures

Inspector notes: Observed an ambient air temperature of 47*F in the middle cold holding unit, utilizing a min/max thermometer. Cold holding equipment must have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. Must repair cold holding equipment such that it maintains TCS foods at 41°F or below. In-person reinspection will be on Tuesday, November 25th

4-301.11

Jun 6, 2025

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Jun 4, 2025

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Equipment lacks capacity to maintain safe food temperatures

Inspector notes: Observed an ambient air temperature of 48*F in the middle cold holding unit at the cook line using a min/max thermometer. Cold holding equipment must have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. Must repair cold holding equipment such that it maintains TCS foods at 41°F or below. Please have a technician service the unit and email the inspector the invoice by Friday, June 13th. The PIC will utilize the walk-in in the meantime

4-301.11

Feb 25, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Physical facilities not cleaned at required frequency

Inspector notes: Observed food debris/build-up occurring inside of equipment. Physical facility must be cleaned frequently enough to prevent accumulation of dirt, organic matter, and food debris. Must clean physical facility prior to next routine inspection

6-501.12

Nov 6, 2024

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

Food is unsafe, adulterated, or misrepresented (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed a tomato-based salsa in a large bin, located in the walk-in cooler, with a carton of half and half inside of the salsa. All food must be in good condition, safe, and unadulterated. PIC assumes when the half and half was being stocked this morning it may have fallen into the salsa. All adulterated food was voluntarily discarded at time of inspection

3-101.11

Jul 31, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

Equipment lacks capacity to maintain safe food temperatures (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed an ambient air temperature of 66*F in the right-most cold holding unit at the cook line using a min/max thermometer. Cold holding equipment must have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. Must repair cold holding equipment such that it maintains TCS foods at 41°F or below. PIC will utilize the walk-in cooler until the unit has been serviced by a professional technician

4-301.11

Show all 8 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe on file is from Feb 24, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “cooling, heating, and holding capacities-equipment” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe.

How does Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe compare to other restaurants in Phoenix?

Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is lower than the Phoenix average of 97.

Has Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe 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 Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe is inspected around five times per year on average.

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