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Restaurant · Wake County, NC

El Jefe Modern Mex

831 S Main St

Last inspected Oct 13, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Score 93.5
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Quick answers

When was El Jefe Modern Mex last inspected?
The most recent inspection on record was on Oct 13, 2026. The result listed by Wake County Environmental Services was “Score 93.5” (official score 93.5).
Were any violations recorded at the last inspection?
Yes: 10 violations recorded, none marked critical. Each one is listed below with the official wording.
How many inspections are on record?
1 inspection on record, from Oct 13, 2026 to Oct 13, 2026.
Has El Jefe Modern Mex ever been closed by the health department?
No closure appears in the 1 inspection record we hold for this business. The earliest is dated Oct 13, 2026.

The full inspection history

1 inspection

1 - Inspection

Oct 13, 2026

Score 93.5

Official score: 93.5 · Understand this area’s scale

10 recorded violations

notedCode 3-302.11Other

Official wording

Food separated & protected

Inspector’s notes

3-302.11; Priority - Raw shell eggs were stored above bottles of water in walk-in cooler. Raw fish was stored above ready-to-eat foods in refrigerated make line bottom. Raw meats; seafood; poultry; etc. shall be stored to prevent contamination of ready-to-eat foods. CDI by properly storing foods.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 3-501.16 (A)(1)Food temperature

Official wording

Proper hot holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

3-501.16 (A)(1); Priority - Two large containers of rice stored on stove top were less than 135F in various parts of rice in both containers (see temperature chart). Except during preparation; cooking; or cooling; or when time as a public health control is used; hot TCS* foods shall be maintained at 135°F or above. CDI by properly reheating rice.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 3-501.16 (A)(2)Food temperature

Official wording

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector’s notes

3-501.16 (A)(2); Priority - Some cold TCS* foods were above 41F (see temperature chart). Except during preparation; cooking; or cooling; or when time as a public health control is used; cold TCS* foods shall be maintained at 41F or less. CDI by properly refrigerating foods.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 7-102.11Chemicals

Official wording

Toxic substances properly identified stored & used

Inspector’s notes

7-102.11; Priority Foundation - A few wiping cloth buckets marked "Detergent" actually had chlorine sanitizer in them. Working containers of cleaners; sanitizers; etc. taken from bulk supplies shall be properly labeled with their contents. CDI by properly labeling buckets as "Sanitizer".

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely
notedCode 3-501.15(A)Food temperature

Official wording

Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

Inspector’s notes

3-501.15(A); Priority Foundation - Observed portioned bags of pasta cooling in container with about 6 inch food depth. TCS* foods shall be cooled by using shallow containers/pans (2-4 inch food depth); ice-water baths with frequent stirring; using rapid cooling equipment (cooling wands; freezer; etc.); and/or loosely covering or completely uncover cooling foods is there's no overhead contamination. CDI by changing cooling methods for faster cooling (placing in freezer with shallower food depth in pan).

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 4-204.112Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector’s notes

4-204.112; Core - No thermometers were located on inside or outside display of two refrigerated make line units. Indicating or recording thermometers shall be located in the warmest parts of refrigerators (on inside or outside display). Provide required indicating thermometers that are accurate to plus or minus 3 degrees F. Air temperature shall be 41F or less.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
notedCode 3-302.12Food source and labeling

Official wording

Food properly labeled: original container

Inspector’s notes

3-302.12; Core - Some squeeze bottles of dressings; sauces; oil; etc. were not properly labeled with their contents. Containers of foods not easy to recognize shall be labeled with the names of their contents. Properly label bottles of foods.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
notedCode 3-304.14Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector’s notes

3-304.14; Core - One bucket of wiping cloth sanitizer had chlorine concentration less than 50 ppm. Also; some soiled wiping cloths were hanging on aprons/clothing of a few kitchen workers. Moist/soiled in-use wiping cloths shall be kept in approved (at proper concentration) clean sanitizer between uses. Store in-use moist/soiled wiping cloths as stated above.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 4-903.11(A)(B) and (D)Equipment and utensils

Official wording

Utensils; equipment & linens: properly stored; dried & handled

Inspector’s notes

4-903.11(A)(B) and (D); Core - Many clean dishes/bowls on storage shelving and counter tops had food contact surfaces unprotected and uncovered. A few dishes/bowls had debris in/on them. Some bowls were stacked while wet. Ice bucket was stored with food contact surface up and unprotected (water at bottom). Clean equipment and utensils shall be stored with food contact surfaces covered or items inverted on clean surfaces. If wet; they shall be stored in self-draining position to air dry. After cleaning and sanitizing; store clean dishes/utensils covered or inverted and separated and in self-draining position.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
notedCode 5-501.115Facility maintenance

Official wording

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Inspector’s notes

5-501.115; Core - Just outside back door of facility; observed accumulation of many chairs; furniture; etc. Trash/recycling enclosures and areas shall be kept clean and free of unnecessary items. Have property manager or other party promptly remove accumulated items and properly dispose of them.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues

Official record from Wake County Environmental Services, Oct 13, 2026 · Original Source

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