BAJA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL
8821 S 180TH ST, KENT, WA 98032 · Restaurant (Seating 51-150)
Inspection summary
BAJA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL has been inspected 38 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since June 2, 2010. The most recent inspection, on April 21, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
24 of 38 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.
The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded 12 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on April 21, 2026. For example:
2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 17, 2025. For example:
4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 21, 2026. For example:
1100 - Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 14, 2013. For example:
0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk
Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.
Recorded once on March 6, 2024. For example:
3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
About this data
These results come from Public Health – Seattle & King County, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
38 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 1100 - Proper disposition of returned, unsafe, or contaminated food; proper date marking procedures for food at high risk for Listeria
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130 to 134 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (54 to 56 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
- BLUE
- 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than130 degrees)
- RED
- 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than130 degrees)
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 4300 - Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
- BLUE
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than130 degrees)
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures (less than130 degrees)
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- RED
- 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 0400 - Hands washed as required
- RED
- 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
- RED
- 0400 - Hands washed as required
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
- RED
- 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130° F...
- RED
- 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130° F...
- RED
- 1720 - Proper hot holding temperatures; between 130° F...
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