Excellent

Santa Fe Mexican Grill

12709 NE 124th St, Kirkland, WA 98034

Kirkland

Rated “Excellent” · as of Mar 17, 2026

Santa Fe Mexican Grill was last inspected on March 17, 2026 and scored 10 points. Inspectors found 1 violation, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

March 17, 2026 · Routine Inspection/Field Review

Unsatisfactory

Score: 10 points

1 critical
  • CriticalHygiene & sanitation10 pts

    Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked.

    Official wording (code 0600)

    Adequate handwashing facilities

Nov 18, 2021: 5521/11Mar 28, 2022: 404022/03Apr 19, 2022: 0022/04Nov 28, 2022: 151522/11Oct 12, 2023: 383823/10Mar 5, 2024: 3324/03Jan 21, 2025: 0025/01Oct 17, 2025: 8825/10Mar 17, 2026: 101026/03
Inspection scores over time. Lower is better (fewer violation points).

Inspection history

9 inspections on record

  1. Unsatisfactory 8 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature5 pts

      Cold food was held slightly too warm (42–45°F).

      Official wording (code 2120)

      Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

    • GeneralFood temperature3 pts

      Frozen food was thawed the wrong way.

      Official wording (code 3000)

      Proper thawing methods used

  2. Satisfactory 0 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    No violations

  3. Satisfactory 3 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep3 pts

      Non-food surfaces were dirty or in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 4300)

      Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean

  4. Unsatisfactory 38 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    2 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation25 pts

      Staff touched ready-to-eat food with bare hands.

      Official wording (code 0500)

      Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods

    • CriticalManagement & training5 pts

      Not every food worker had a current Food Worker Card.

      Official wording (code 0200)

      Food Worker Cards current for all food workers; new food workers trained

    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Wiping cloths weren’t stored in sanitizer, or sanitizer strength was wrong.

      Official wording (code 3400)

      Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

    • GeneralFacility upkeep3 pts

      Non-food surfaces were dirty or in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 4300)

      Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean

  5. Unsatisfactory 15 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature10 pts

      Cold food was held above 45°F.

      Official wording (code 2110)

      Proper cold holding temperatures; greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (7 degrees Celsius (C))

    • GeneralFacility upkeep3 pts

      Non-food surfaces were dirty or in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 4300)

      Nonfood-contact surfaces maintained and clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep2 pts

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Official wording (code 4800)

      Physical facilities properly installed, maintained, cleaned; unnecessary persons excluded from establishment

  6. Satisfactory 0 points

    Return Inspection

    No violations

  7. Unsatisfactory 40 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    3 critical Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation25 pts

      Staff touched ready-to-eat food with bare hands.

      Official wording (code 0500)

      Proper barriers used to prevent bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods

    • CriticalFood temperature5 pts

      Cold food was held slightly too warm (42–45°F).

      Official wording (code 2120)

      Proper cold holding temperatures; between 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (6 to 7 degrees Celsius (C))

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation10 pts

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked.

      Official wording (code 0600)

      Adequate handwashing facilities

  8. Satisfactory 5 points

    Routine Inspection/Field Review

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling5 pts

      Wiping cloths weren’t stored in sanitizer, or sanitizer strength was wrong.

      Official wording (code 3400)

      Wiping cloths properly used, stored; sanitizer concentration

More in Kirkland

Source: Public Health – Seattle & King County open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 8 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.