TAQUERIA EL TACO MAESTRO
3172 NE SUNSET BL, Renton, WA 98056 · Restaurant (Seating 13-50)
Inspection summary
TAQUERIA EL TACO MAESTRO has been inspected 22 times by Public Health – Seattle & King County since August 14, 2012. The most recent inspection, on March 23, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.
10 of 22 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 4 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 8 separate inspections, most recently on March 23, 2026. For example:
3000 - Proper thawing methods used
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 9 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on April 5, 2024. 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on March 23, 2026. For example:
3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
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 23, 2026. For example:
3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
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 once on December 13, 2018. For example:
0400 - Hands washed as required
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.
22 inspections
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
- BLUE
- 3100 - Food properly labeled; proper date marking
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 1710 - Proper hot holding temperatures; less than 130 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (54 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 3000 - Proper thawing methods used
- Educational Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
- RED
- 2000 - Proper reheating procedures for hot holding
- RED
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
4 infractions
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- BLUE
- 3300 - Potential food contamination prevented during delivery, preparation, storage, display
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, cleaned, sanitized
- BLUE
- 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
- RED
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed, maintained, used; sanitizer concentration; test strips available and used
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- BLUE
- 2300 - Proper consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- BLUE
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
7 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 4100 - Warewashing facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 3700 - In-use utensils properly stored
- BLUE
- 4000 - Food and non-food surfaces properly used and...
- BLUE
- 4800 - Physical facilities properly installed,...
- BLUE
- 0400 - Hands washed as required
- RED
- 1400 - Raw meats below and away from ready to eat food; species separated
- RED
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- BLUE
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 4200 - Food-contact surfaces maintained, clean, sanitized
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
2 infractions
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 2120 - Proper cold holding temperatures ( 42° F to 45° F)
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
1 infraction
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- BLUE
- 0200 - Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 3400 - Wiping cloths properly used, stored, proper sanitizer
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Consultation/Education - Field
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
- Return Inspection
0 infractions
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
3 infractions
- 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
- RED
- 2200 - Accurate thermometer provided and used ...
- RED
- 1600 - Proper cooling procedure
- RED
- 1900 - No room temperature storage; proper use of time...
- Routine Inspection/Field Review
0 infractions
Nearby inspected facilities
- TACOS EL REY #2 - KC871
3172 NE SUNSET BL, RENTON, WA 98056
3 inspections
- MAI PLACE ASIAN BISTRO
3152 NE SUNSET BL, RENTON, WA 98056
9 inspections
- RED WAGON NO5
3154 NE SUNSET BL, RENTON, WA 98056
3 inspections
- AFGHAN RESTAURANT & MARKET
3217 NE SUNSET BLVD, Renton, WA 98056
1 inspection
- LITTLE PEKING RESTAURANT
3217 NE SUNSET BL, Renton, WA 98056
12 inspections
- RITE AID #5203
3116 NE SUNSET BL, RENTON, WA 98056
18 inspections
- LA FUENTE
3221 NE SUNSET BL, RENTON, WA 98056
35 inspections
- PLUM DELICIOUS FAMILY RESTAURANT
3212 NE SUNSET BL, RENTON, WA 98056
35 inspections