El Gallo Bravo

Chicago Health Dept

3714 W LAWRENCE AVE · LINCOLN SQUARE, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Jul 2026), 3 critical violations noted.

3 inspections on record since 2025 · Last inspected Jul 2026 · 5 critical violations in the last 12 months.

The numbers

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

JUL 2026

Inspection history

JUL 29

2026

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 10 violations 3 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED

2-301.15 OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WASH THEIR HANDS IN THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK BEHIND THE BAR AREA WHERE DISHES AND UTENSILS ARE WASHED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EMPLOYEES MUST USE ONLY THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINKS TO WASH THEIR HANDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Other

REQUIRED RECORDS AVAILABLE: SHELLSTOCK TAGS, PARASITE DESTRUCTION

3-202.18(A) OBSERVED NO SHELLSTOCK TAGS ON THE PREMISES FOR RAW OYSTERS FOR THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS. MANAGEMENT ONLY HAS CURRENT SHELLSHOCK TAGS FOR THE OYSTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO MARK THE SHELLSHOCK TAG WITH THE DATE THAT THE LAST OYSTER IS CONSUMED AND KEEP THE TAGS AFTERWARDS FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Food Temperature

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

3-501.16 OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS STORED IN THE 2-DOOR PREP COOLER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTION ON 7/22/26. OBSERVED FISH AT 48F, SHRIMP AT 44F, OYSTERS IN WATER AT 46F AND COOKED RICE AT 46F. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL COLD TCS FOODS BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Food Temperature

PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

4-301.11 OBSERVED THE 2-DOOR PREP COOLER WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 48F. THE COOLER WAS USED TO STORE TCS FOODS SUCH AS FISH, RAW OYSTERS AND SHRIMP. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THE PREP COOLER BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Sanitation

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

4-101.11 OBSERVED COOKED CACTUS STORED IN A CRACKED PLASTIC FOOD STORAGE CONTAINER IN THE REFRIGERATOR. ALSO OBSERVED SLICED TORTILLAS STORED IN A CARDBOARD BOX ON THE PREP TABLE IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO STORE ALL FOODS IN PROPER AND INTACT FOOD GRADE STORAGE CONTAINERS.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

4-602.13 CLEAN THE GREASE BUILDUP BENEATH THE GRILL.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

5-204.12 OBSERVED A RUBBER HOSE CONNECTED TO THE MOP SINK WHERE THE FAUCET IS LOCATED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE RUBBER HOSE WITH A FAUCET AND INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE FAUCET TO ATTACH THE HOSE.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.12 CLEAN THE WALLS AND FLOOR OF THE FOOD PREP AREA BENEATH ALL BEHIND THE COOKING EQUIPMENT.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.11 REPLACE THE BROKEN FLOOR TILES UNDERNEATH BOTH 1-DOOR STAND UP PREP COOLERS LOCATED IN THE DINING ROOM. REPAIR THE LOOSE FLOORING IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA ACROSS FROM THE WASHROOMS.

Critical Pest Activity

PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED

8-404.13(B)(3) PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2640045 ON 7/22/6 NOT CORRECTED: 38 - OBSERVED APPROX. 100 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASEMENT OFFICE, BASEMENT STORAGE CLOSET AND ON THE PREP TABLES USED AS STORAGE IN THE REAR CORNER OF THE BASEMENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.

JUL 22

2026

FAIL 7 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Food Storage & Handling

NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED

OBSERVED BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS BY A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE. OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE TOUCH A TORTILLA WHILE PREPARING A TACO WITH THEIR BARE HANDS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT NO BARE HAND CONTACT IS ALLOWED WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Food Temperature

PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED COOKED STEAK STORED IN A STAINLESS STEEL CONTAINER ON THE GRILL WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 80F. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL HOT FOODS ABOVE 135F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Food Temperature

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS INSIDE OF THE 2-DOOR PREP COOLER. OBSERVED UNSHUCKED OYSTERS IN A CONTAINER OF 45F WATER, SHRIMP AT 44F, FISH AT 45F, AND COOKED CACTUS AT 44F. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL COLD TCS FOODS BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. SEE VIOLATION #21 ABOVE FOR CITATION.

Serious Other

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

OBSERVED SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE MENU THAT ARE RAW OR UNDERCOOKED (BREAKFAST EGG ITEMS) WITHOUT A CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ASTERISK NEXT TO THEM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO ASTERISK ALL FOOD ITEMS ON THE MENU WHICH CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED AND LINK THOSE ITEMS TO THE ASTERISKED REMINDER STATEMENT ON THE MENU. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Minor Food Temperature

PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

OBSERVED THE 2-DOOR PREP COOLER WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 60F. THE COOLER WAS USED TO STORE TCS FOODS SUCH AS FISH, RAW OYSTERS AND SHRIMP. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THE PREP COOLER BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED APPROX. 100 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASEMENT OFFICE, FLOOR OF THE HVAC CLOSET NEXT TO THE WASHROOMS, BASEMENT STORAGE CLOSET AND ON THE PREP TABLE USED AS STORAGE IN THE REAR CORNER OF THE BASEMENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

REPAIR THE LOOSE FLOORING IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA.

AUG 25

2025

PASS 2 violations

Serious Sanitation

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

NOTED AN OVERSIZED POT LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT PREP UNABLE TO BE SUBMERGED IN THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK TO WASH, RINSE AND SANITIZE. INSTRUCTED TO EITHER REMOVE POT FROM THE PREMISES OR PROVIDE A LARGE ENOUGH SINK TO ACCOMMODATE OR DEMONSTRATE AND PROVIDE A WRITTEN CLEANING AND SANITIZING PROCEDURE FOR THE POT.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT WITH POOLING WATER MUST REMOVE AND MAINTAIN DRY FLOORS, REPAIR ANY LEAKS POSSIBLY FROM WALK-IN COOLER/FREEZERS.

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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