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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameEL VALLE MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Address305 W JOHN ST
 
City/State/ZIP
MATTHEWS NC 28105
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 7/24/2025
Final Score @ Grade
96 A
General Comments

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
10 0 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes No No 6-301.12 Provide paper towels or approved alternative for hand drying at each handsink. -Pf Observed hand sink next to dish machine with inoperable paper towel dispenser. Employee discovered that dispenser was jammed. CDI: PIC repaired paper towel dispenser and paper towels were accessible.
20 1.50 Proper cooling time & temperatures Yes No No 3-501.14(A) Quickly cool cooked foods within 2 hours from 135F to 70F; and within a total of 6 hours from 135F to 41F. -P. For more information please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU . Observed a deep metal container of refried beans at 49F cooling in walk in cooler from previous day. CDI: PIC voluntarily discarded beans.
23 1.50 Proper date marking & disposition Yes No No 3-501.17 (A) or (B) Date mark/label all TCS foods that are ready-to-eat once opened or prepared and are to be held for more than 24 hours. -Pf. Establish a date marking system consistent with 3-501.17 (A) or (B). Additional date marking system options are found in 3-501.17 (D). For more information, please visit: www.mecknc.gov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Date Marking Food Safely https://youtu.be/BOPsSNUajYs . 3-501.18 Discard the food requiring date labels once time/temperature window has expired, if it has not been labeled, or if the label is incorrect. -P The PIC should train and assign staff to monitor date marking to prevent the use of food products that are no longer in compliance with 3-501.17 (A), (B), or (C) For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Date Marking Food Safely https://youtu.be/BOPsSNUajYs . Observed a container of chipotle salsa being held in prep reach in cooler, a container of pico de gallo held in walk in cooler, a container of chorizo in other walk in cooler and containers of salsa being held in small flip top cooler all missing date marks. CDI: PIC date marked all items.
28 0 Toxic substances properly identified stored & used Yes No No 7-102.11 Label working containers of toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers.-Pf Observed a spray bottle of sanitizer being stored on prep shelf unlabeled. CDI: PIC labeled spray bottle.
33 0.50 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes No No 3-501.15 Quickly cool foods. Use methods such as open/vented shallow pans, large ice baths and active stirring. Cold air must flow around product to remove the heat. -Pf For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU . Observed a deep metal container of refried beans at 49F cooling in walk in cooler from previous day. CDI: PIC voluntarily discarded beans.
37 0 Food properly labeled: original container Yes No No 3-302.12 Label all working containers of food (oils, spices, salts, flour, sugar) except food that is easy to identify such as dry pasta. Observed one working bottle of oil being held at grill unlabeled. CDI: PIC labeled working bottle.
45 0 Single-use & single-service articles: properly stored & used Yes No No 4-903.11(C ) Single Service and Single Use items shall be kept in the original protective package or stored using other means that protect the item until used. Observed one stack of single use to go containers being stored right side up outside of their original packaging on storage shelf. CDI: PIC inverted containers to protect against contamination.
47 0.50 Equipment, food & non-food contact surfaces approved, cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used No No No 4-101.19/4-202.16 Non FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT that are exposed to splash, spillage, or other FOOD soiling or that require frequent cleaning shall be constructed of a CORROSION-RESISTANT, nonabsorbent, and SMOOTH material. NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES shall be free of unnecessary ledges, projections, and crevices, and designed and constructed to allow easy cleaning and to facilitate maintenance. Observed prep counter next to dish machine with bottom shelf completely rusted through shelf which created a hole in shelf. Replace shelf. 4-101.11 (A) - (E ) Food contact surfaces shall be (A) Safe P, (B) Durable, Corrosion-Resistant, (C ) sufficient in weight and thickness to withstand repeated washing (D) Smooth and easily cleanable, and (E) Resistant to damage. Observed bowls made of porous volcanic rock being stored on prep counter. PIC stated bowls are used for serving certain dishes and food directly contacts bowls. Replace bowls with non-porous material that is smooth and easily cleanable.