Barrio Queen

21156 S Ellsworth Loop Rd Queen, Queen Creek, AZ 85242

Mexican / Latin

License: Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Last inspected: Mar 24, 2026

Score

Medium Risk

The health department has logged six inspections at Barrio Queen, the earliest from 2024. The most recent report on file is from Mar 24, 2026. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.

Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near two violations each time.

“Manual and mechanical warewashing equipment” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

Restaurants in Queen Creek average 95, so Barrio Queen trails the local norm. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Mar 24, 2026

Routine

1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 3 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observedemloyee with bare hands adding limes to drinks at the bar. Talked to manager about bare hand contact policy. Ensure that bare hands do not touch ready to eat foods

3-301.11(B)

Handwashing sink blocked, inaccessible, or used improperly (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed water pitcher stored inside the hand sink basin at the hand sink between the grill and the main dishwasher. Manager removed the item. Ensure that all hand sinks are open and accessible at all times

5-205.11

Food-contact surface not smooth, sealed, or easily cleanable (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed facility has basalt, lava rock style molcajetes in use in the facility. As per manager, the restaurant had removed them previously. Talked to manager about cleanability of food contact surfaces. Ensure that these lava rock style molcajetes are not used to come in contact for foods

4-202.11

Nov 3, 2025

Routine

3 critical violations. 3 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

Manual and Mechanical Warewashing Equipment, Chemical Sanitization- Temperature, pH, Concentration and Hardness (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed 0 ppm bleach at the bar dishwasher after a fresh cycle. Talked to manager about dishwashing options, and has a main dishwasher and 3 compartment sink set up correctly. Ensure that bleach dishwashers at set at 50-100 ppm bleach at all times. of operation

4-501.114(A-E)

Food not cooled to safe temperature within required time (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed green chile pork that had been cooling for 4 hours, at 95-100F. Talked to manager about cooling techniques. Embargoed the foods. Ensure that cooled foods get from 135F to 70F within 2 hours, and from 70F to 41f within 4 more hours, for 6 hours total

3-501.14

Hot or cold food held at improper temperature (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed black beans in warmer at 110F. Manager embargoed the foods. Ensure the TCS foods during hot holding is kept at 135F and above. see embargo form

3-501.16(A)(1)

Aug 4, 2025

Routine

2 critical violations. 2 corrected on site.

View 2 violations

Hands not washed when required (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed employee with gloves touching raw shrimp, then removing gloves and donning new gloves. Talked to manager about when to wash, and glove policy., employee immediately washed their hands. Ensure that employees hands are washed going from different tasks in the kitchen

2-301.14

Raw and ready-to-eat foods not properly separated (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed opened tray of raw shelled eggs in the walkin stored above milk and tortillas. Manager moved the eggs to a lower shelf. Ensure that raw animal products are stored below ready to eat foods

3-302.11(A1-2)

Feb 12, 2025

Routine

2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

Manual and Mechanical Warewashing Equipment, Chemical Sanitization- Temperature, pH, Concentration and Hardness (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed dish machine in kitchen with 0ppm sanitizer concentration. Had PIC call for service and discontinue use of machine until repair is made

4-501.114(A-E)

Hot or cold food held at improper temperature (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed cooked chicken, corn, fish, cooked onions and cooked mushrooms at temperatures of 108*F -120*F. All foods had been holding since noon. Had PIC discard all foods. See embargo

3-501.16(A)(1)

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

Inspector notes: Observed make table on line with ambient temperature of 56*F. Had PIC empty table of all foods and call for service. Establishment has adequate refrigeration to move foods to other units

4-301.11

Sep 16, 2024

Routine

No violations found.

100

Aug 19, 2024

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Unnecessary items or litter present on premises

Inspector notes: Observed basalt molcojetes on it and in use and stored clean. Talked to staff about switching to plastic ones. Ensure rock food items are removed from tthe kitchen as they are not cleanable

6-501.114

Wiping cloths used or stored improperly

Inspector notes: Observed wet sanitizer rags being kept dry and solution level in buckets was too low. Manager replaced the water. Ensure sanitizer rags are maintained wet

3-304.14

Show all 6 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Barrio Queen last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Barrio Queen on file is from Mar 24, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Barrio Queen?

Across the inspection record, “manual and mechanical warewashing equipment” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Barrio Queen.

How does Barrio Queen compare to other restaurants in Queen Creek?

Barrio Queen most recently scored 70 out of 100, which is lower than the Queen Creek average of 95.

Has Barrio Queen's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Barrio Queen have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Barrio Queen means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is Barrio Queen inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Barrio Queen is inspected around four times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Panera Bread

20670 E Victoria Ln Queen

Score: 100 — Low Risk

Del Taco

20485 E Rittenhouse Rd Queen

Score: 78 — Low Risk

Basha Bottling Company

22375 S Scotland Ct Queen

Score: 100 — Low Risk

Explore More

→ All locations in Queen Creek → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Maricopa → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Queen Creek