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MALENA'S TACO SHOP

620 W MCGRAW ST, Seattle, WA 98119 · Restaurant (Seating 0-12)

Inspection summary

MALENA'S TACO SHOP has been inspected 47 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since January 13, 2006. The most recent inspection, on February 12, 2026, found no infractions.

19 of 47 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 17 times across 15 separate inspections, most recently on February 19, 2025. For example: 1600 - Proper cooling procedure

  • 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 12 times across 10 separate inspections, most recently on February 8, 2023. For example: 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used

  • 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 10 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on February 19, 2025. For example: 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display

  • 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 21, 2020. For example: 0400 - Hands washed as required

  • 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 February 8, 2023. 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.

47 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  2. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  3. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  4. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
  5. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
  6. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
      • BLUE
    • 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
      • BLUE
    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready-to-eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  7. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 4300 - Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 4000 - Food and nonfood surfaces properly used and constructed; cleanable
      • BLUE
    • 4900 - Adequate ventilation; lighting; designated areas used
      • BLUE
    • 4400 - Plumbing properly sized, installed, and maintained; proper backflow devices, indirect drains, no cross-connections
      • BLUE
    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
      • RED
  8. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
  9. Return Inspection

    0 infractions

  10. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
    • 2000 - Proper reheating procedures for hot holding
      • RED
  11. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    6 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 4300 - Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
      • RED
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
    • 0400 - Hands washed as required
      • RED
  12. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    4 infractions

    • 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  13. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  14. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  15. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 infractions

    • 4300 - Non-food contact surfaces maintained and clean
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  16. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  17. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
      • RED
  18. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  19. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  20. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
  21. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
      • BLUE
    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
      • BLUE
  22. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  23. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
      • RED
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  24. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  25. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
      • BLUE
    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  26. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  27. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  28. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  29. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
  30. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
    • 0600 - Adequate handwashing facilities
      • RED
  31. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  32. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  33. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food...
      • RED
  34. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  35. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  36. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
      • RED
  37. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  38. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • 2110 - Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  39. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored
      • BLUE
    • 1300 - Food contact surfaces used for raw meat...
      • RED
  40. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  41. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    0 infractions

  42. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • Posting of permit; mobile establishment name...
      • BLUE
    • Proper cold holding temperatures (greater than 45° F)
      • RED
  43. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
      • BLUE
    • Potential food contamination prevented during ...
      • BLUE
  44. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • Potential food contamination prevented during ...
      • BLUE
  45. Consultation/Education - Field

    0 infractions

  46. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 infractions

    • Physical facilities properly installed,...
      • BLUE
    • Posting of permit; mobile establishment name...
      • BLUE
  47. Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 infraction

    • Proper cooling procedure
      • RED

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