Carniceria Sonora

3135 S 48th St, Tempe, AZ 85282

Grocery / Market

License: Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Last inspected: Jan 14, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Inspectors have visited Carniceria Sonora five times, with records going back to 2024. Inspectors last stopped by on Jan 14, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near one violation per visit.

That's lower than the typical Tempe restaurant, which scores around 95. The record reflects steady performance over time.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 14, 2026

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

Gloves used incorrectly or not changed when required (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed an employee wash hands with gloves on at a hand washing sink and begin to resume work. Single-use gloves shall be limited to one task prior to washing hands and changing gloves. Person in charge (PIC) directed employee to change gloves and wash hands

3-304.15(A)

Aug 28, 2025

Routine

No violations found.

100

May 23, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

Expired or improperly marked ready-to-eat food not discarded (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed RTE cooked carnitas stored in the walk-in cooler with a label dated 5/14/2025. PIC willingly discarded carnitas at time of inspection. Discussed date-marking requirements with PIC. All RTE/TCS foods past 7 days of preparation were discarded by PIC at the time of inspection. RTE/TCS foods requiring date marking must be date marked within 24 hours and sold or discarded after 7 days (including the day it was made as day 1)

3-501.18

Jan 13, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation. 2 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: Observed a box of raw beef stored directly atop RTE salsas in the center walk-in cooler. Discussed proper food storage with PIC. All raw animal proteins must be stored below ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and stored according to cooking temperature at all times to prevent cross contamination. PIC properly stored all raw animal proteins according to the final cooking temperature based on the cooking parameters in § 3-401.11 of the Food Code

3-302.11(A1-2)

No hand drying provision at handwashing sink (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed no hand drying provision available at the designated hand sink located in the tortilla prep area. Handwash sinks must be supplied with hot water of at least 100°F, soap and an approved hand drying provision at all times. Facilities must be maintained in a condition that promotes handwashing. PIC provided hand drying provision for handwash sink at time of inspection

6-301.12

Equipment material allows contamination or unsafe migration

Inspector notes: Observed make-shift scooper made from a repurposed bottle being used to handle dry ingredients such as chili powder and oregano. The scooper was observed to have jagged edges, rendering the utensils neither smooth, nor easily cleanable. Discussed replacing utensils with durable metal scoopers with PIC. All food-contact surfaces must be smooth, non-absorbent, and easily cleanable

4-101.11(B-E)

Sep 25, 2024

Routine

No violations found.

100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Carniceria Sonora last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Carniceria Sonora on file is from Jan 14, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.

How does Carniceria Sonora compare to other restaurants in Tempe?

Carniceria Sonora most recently scored 86 out of 100, which is lower than the Tempe average of 95.

Has Carniceria Sonora's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Carniceria Sonora have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Carniceria Sonora means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 100 — Low Risk

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