Popular Burger Restaurant Zinburger Fails Health Inspection

A local restaurant did not live up to expectations during its health inspection.Photo byAni KolleshionUnsplash

When it comes to burger chain restaurants around greater Tucson, few deliver the kind of expected quality as Zinburger. As the ultimate destination to head to when you want more than a fast-food burger (and don’t feel like heading to a dive or sports restaurant), Zinburger has you covered. With several locations around Tucson, you’re never too far from the nearest destination. However, one of the several Tucon-area Zinburgers recently was given a Fail on its health inspection grade. However, in this instance, it might not have been its own fault for the failing grade.

On May 7, a health inspector stopped by the Zinburger at 1865 East River Road (Suite 101) here in Tucson. This is one of the newest Zinburger restaurants in the state. During two previous inspections performed in 2023, the restaurant received both a Good and, most recently, and Excellent grade. However, this time around, a single violation led to the lowest health score possible.

When inspecting the Joseler Village shopping center restaurant, one of the first things tested inside of the restaurant was the functionality of all sinks. This is done to make sure water temperature can reach a necessary level for employees to wash their hands. Proper employee hygiene is essential to a safe eating environment for customers.

However, the health inspector discovered the hand sink on the cookline had no functioning hot water, and washing hands in cold water is not an option. If an employee wanted hot water they needed to access it through hand valves below the sink, where water came out at a temperature of 121 degrees. The water temperature should be at least 100 degrees. Depending on the person’s sensitivity to hot water, 121 degrees might be too hot.

Ultimately, repairs are the responsibility of a restaurant to handle. With that in mind, the restaurant did put in a work order to have the hot water issue addressed back on the 26 of April. At least this is according to the Person In Charge (PIC) at Zinburger. For whatever reason, the sink has not been addressed, and employees are not able to use the handwashing sink to wash their hands.

This immediately concluded the abbreviated health inspection. The PIC was informed the restaurant needed to provide a hand-washing sink that could function properly and deliver hot water. No repeat visit was scheduled at the time of the original inspection, according to the report submitted by the on-site health inspector.