Birrieria LA Tapatia

Chicago Health Dept

2861 W CERMAK RD · NORTH LAWNDALE, CHICAGO

Failed most recent inspection (Aug 2026).

10 inspections on record since 2018 · Last inspected Aug 2026 · 1 critical violation in the last 12 months.

The numbers

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

AUG 2026

Inspection history

AUG 31

2026

FAIL 5 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED OVER 30 MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON WOODEN LEDGE UNDER STAIRWAY AND BOTTOM OF PREP TABLE IN REAR PREP/STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED

Minor Pest Activity

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED MILK CRATES USED AS SHELVING UNITS IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING FOR EASY CLEANING AND PEST CONTROL.

Minor Pest Activity

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

OBSERVED OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTER OVERFLOWING WITH TRASH, ATTRACTING FLIES AND LIDS NOT TIGHT-FITTING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO MAINTAIN AND COVER OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTER AND LIDS SHALL BE TIGHT-FITTING TO PREVENT PEST ATTRACTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(B) CITATION ISSUED

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED STAINED CEILING TILES AND MISSING OUTLET COVERS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN CEILING TILES AND OUTLET COVERS.

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.

MAR 18

2026

PASS 8 violations

Minor Employee Hygiene

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.

Minor Sanitation

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS IMPROPERLY STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.

Minor Other

SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

OBSERVED SPILLS AND PERSONAL ITEMS STORED ON SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

Serious Sanitation

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT TOO LARGE TO SUBMERGE INSIDE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE ALL LARGE EQUIPMENT.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED SELF-CLOSING DEVICE IN POOR REPAIR IN STAFF WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON STAFF WASHROOM DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED OPENINGS AND PEELING SURFACES ON WALL BEHIND PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR WALL BEHIND PREP TABLE TO MAKE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

Minor Other

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOOD AND EQUIPMENT MUST OBTAIN FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING.

JUL 23

2025

PASS 2 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

6-301.14 OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNS IN RESTROOMS IN DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-201.11 OBSERVED BROKEN AND MISSING FLOOR TILE NEAR THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AREA OF FLOOR TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

JUL 15

2025

FAIL 4 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNS IN RESTROOMS IN DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Serious Sanitation

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED BUILD UP OF BLACK MOLD-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON INTERIOR COMPONENTS OF ICE MACHINE DRIPPING ONTO ICE (ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO DISCARD ICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE MACHINE, AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Documentation & Training

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED WASTEWATER BACKING UP INTO SINK COMPARTMENTS WHEN CENTER COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR SINK AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED BROKEN AND MISSING FLOOR TILE NEAR THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AREA OF FLOOR TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

NOV 4

2024

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 2 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Food Temperature

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING SINK NOT MAINTAINED WITH HOT WATER: IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF HOT WATER OBSERVED AT DISHWASH HANDSINK AT 66F. REPAIRS WERE MADE DURING INSPECTION WATER IS AT 101F. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE OF HOT WATER AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS MUST BE AT LEAST 100F. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Food Temperature

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES IN THE WALK-IN COOLER, SUCH AS 4 LBS OF BEEF AT 47.2F, 2 LBS OF BEEF BARBACOA AT 47.8F, AND 6 LBS OF GOAT AT 49.4F. THE MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL OF 12 LBS AT $250. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.

show all 10 inspections →

JUN 23

2023

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED LARGE CUTTING BOARD IN REAR PREP AREA WITH DEEP GROOVES AND DARK MARKS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPLACE OR RE-SURFACE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

JUL 20

2022

PASS 4 violations

Minor Other

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

NO DRAIN STOPPERS AT THREE COMP SINK FOR PROPER SET UP; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER DRAIN STOPPERS AT THREE COMP SINK.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN REAR UPPER INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE BEHIND FRONT SERVING COUNTER AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED UNCOVERED WASTE RECEPTACLES IN UNISEX WASHROOMS; MUST PROVIDE COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLES IN UNISEX WASHROOMS FOR FEMININE PRODUCTS.

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.

NOV 16

2020

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED CRATES USED FOR ELEVATION IN GARAGE AREA (FREEZERS) AS WELL AS PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS. MUST MAINTAIN.

MAY 9

2019

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 2 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Sanitation

PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

OBSERVED PROCEDURE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEA, BUT NO CLEAN-UP KIT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED WATER STAINED CEILING TILES ABOVE THE ONE DOOR COOLER IN THE FRONT AREA COOK STATION. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.

AUG 30

2018

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 5 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Documentation & Training

MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

OBSERVED NO POLICY IN PLACE FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.

Critical Other

PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

OBSERVED NO PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.

Minor Sanitation

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

SINK COMPARTMENTS MUST BE LARGE ENOUGH TO FULLY ACCOMMODATE IMMERSION OF THE LARGEST EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE LARGE UTENSILS FROM PREMISES OR PROVIDE A 3-COMP SINK THAT WOULD ACCOMODATE THE OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-025. NO CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Other

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF EMPLOYEES FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRIED.

Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-09-06. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →

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