El Gordo Real Mexican Grill

1795 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

Mexican / Latin

License: Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Last inspected: Jan 21, 2026

100

Score

Low Risk Grade: A

Going back to 2024, El Gordo Real Mexican Grill has nine inspections in the public record. On Jan 21, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around one violation each.

“Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food, disposition” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

The city-wide average for Tempe sits at 95, putting El Gordo Real Mexican Grill on the better side of that line. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 21, 2026

Routine

No violations found.

100

Sep 2, 2025

Routine

No violations found.

100

Jun 3, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.

View 2 violations

Plumbing system not maintained in good repair

Inspector notes: Observed discharge piping from handsink next to rear ice machine leaking. All plumbing must be maintained in good repair at all times

5-205.15(B)

Wiping cloths used or stored improperly (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed multiple sanitizer buckets with 0ppm of chlorine sanitizer. All wet wiping cloths must be stored in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations. Wiping cloths were placed in sanitizer buckets with approved sanitizer concentrations at time of inspection

3-304.14

Feb 12, 2025

Food Advisory Inspection

No violations found.

100

Feb 6, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation. 3 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: Observed the following time/temperature controlled for safety (TCS)/ready to eat (RTE) food labelled with the following preparation date: cooked jalapeno/carrot pickle (1/30). 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). All RTE/TCS foods past 7 days of preparation were discarded by PIC at the time of inspection

3-501.18

Equipment or utensils not clean (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed dried red and white food debris in dicers stored on the bottom shelf of the prep table near the freezer. All food-contact surfaces must be cleaned to sight and touch. Person in charge (PIC) relocated all food-contact surfaces to warewashing area to be washed, rinsed, and sanitized at the time of inspection

4-601.11(A)

Improper cooling methods used (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed cooked carne asada with measured internal temperature of 75*F - 90*F. Person in charge indicated they started cooking the carne asada at 8 am and finished around 9 am (~1-2 hours before inspection). The carne asada was in plastic, 4-inch containers uncovered. TCS foods must be cooled in: uncovered/loosely covered, shallow containers less than 4 inches deep, in equipment designed to rapidly cool, by using an ice bath, by using ice as an ingredient, or another effective means. Person in charge moved the carne asada to sheet pans and halved the quantities into other pans and placed them near the top of the walk-in refrigerator. The measured internal temperature after 15 minutes was 58*F and below. Discussed for dense foods cooling in thinner layers near the top of the walk-in refrigerator

3-501.15(B)

Nov 5, 2024

Routine

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

View 2 violations

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

Inspector notes: Observed the following time/temperature controlled for safety (TCS)/ready to eat (RTE) foods labelled with the following preparation dates: cooked cabeza (10/29), fried fish (10/29), taquitos with cooked meat (10/29), tacos with cooked chicken (10/29), and enchilada sauce (10/22). 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). All RTE/TCS foods past 7 days of preparation were discarded by PIC at the time of inspection

3-501.18

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

Inspector notes: Observed ice stored in an old sour cream container that has been used for salsa. Observed cracks in sour cream container that are stained with red food debris from salsa. Person in charge was informed that this container was no longer easily cleanable and that the cracks in the containers to lead to inadequate cleaning and microorganism growth. Person in charge discarded the ice and the container. Person in charge was informed that retail food packaging/containers were not designed to be repeatedly reused after their original contents are depleted; because they were not designed for this purpose they may be susceptible to pitting/breaking or may not be easily/adequately washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses. Person in charge informed they must replace their containers not meant for multiuse with food safe containers that were designed to be warewashed and used multiple times

4-202.11

Sep 9, 2024

Routine

2 major violations. 2 corrected on site.

View 2 violations

Equipment or utensils not clean (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: In kitchen above mop sink observed a dicer that was being stored as clean. Per PIC the dicer had not been used the day of inspection. Dicer had dried food debris on the cutting surfaces. PIC moved dicer to 3 compartment sink to be properly cleaned at time of inspection

4-601.11(A)

Prohibited toxic material present in facility (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: On storage rack by 3 compartment sink observed an opened can of Raid Defense. Per PIC it is used for the trash area outside. PIC discarded can at time of inspection

7-202.11

Aug 6, 2024

Food Advisory Inspection

No violations found.

100

Jul 22, 2024

Food Advisory Inspection

No violations found.

100

Show all 9 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Gordo Real Mexican Grill last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Gordo Real Mexican Grill on file is from Jan 21, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Gordo Real Mexican Grill?

Across the inspection record, “ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food, disposition” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Gordo Real Mexican Grill.

How does El Gordo Real Mexican Grill compare to other restaurants in Tempe?

El Gordo Real Mexican Grill most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Tempe average of 95.

Has El Gordo Real Mexican Grill's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Gordo Real Mexican Grill have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at El Gordo Real Mexican Grill 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 Gordo Real Mexican Grill inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Gordo Real Mexican Grill is inspected around six times per year on average.

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