SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

EL GUSTAZO BORICUA LLC.

BEAT. 43/100

1703 N PULASKI RD · BELMONT CRAGIN, CHICAGO

Last inspected November 5, 2025 · passed

Failed an inspection 6 months ago. 9 critical violations on the cumulative record. Recent enough to matter.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
4
1 passed · 2 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
27
includes 9 critical
RECORDS COVER
2 YEARS
since May 2023

INSPECTION HISTORY

NOV 5
2025
PASSED
4 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

6-301.14: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR DISHWASHING/FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

4-601.11(B): OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE AT THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.13: OBSERVED THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY IN NEED OF CLEANING. ESPECIALLY UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, SURROUNDING THE GREASE TRAP UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, IN THE HOT WATER TANK STORAGE CLOSET, UNDER THE NON-SLIP MATS AT THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER, AND UNDER THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.114: OBSERVED HOT WATER TANK STORAGE CLOSET WITH CLUTTER. ALSO, FOUND BROKEN DOWN CARDBOARD BOXES ON THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED DECLUTTER, ORGANIZE, AND REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD BOXES AN MAINTAIN.

OCT 29
2025
FAILED
7 violations4 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING THE INSPECTION, WHILE FOOD WAS BEING PREPARED AND HOT/COLD HELD DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES, WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012, CITATION ISSUED

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND DRYING PROVISION AT ANY OF THE HANDWASHING SINKS ON SITE AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. EMPLOYEE PROVIDED ROLLS OF PAPER TOWEL AT EACH SINK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C), CITATION ISSUED

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR DISHWASHING/FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

CRITICALPest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 OR MORE RAT DROPPINGS AND 4 LIVE BIG FLIES ON SITE. RAT DROPPINGS WERE FOUND ON THE FLOORS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: THE FLOOR NEAR THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER, UNDER THE COUNTER BEHIND THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA, ON THE FLOORS UNDER THE REAR FOOD PREP TABLE ACROSS FROM THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, AND IN THE DINING AREA. FOUND FLIES ON THE WALLS IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RAT DROPPINGS, REMOVE BIG FLY ACTIVITY, AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE AT THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY IN NEED OF CLEANING. ESPECIALLY UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, SURROUNDING THE GREASE TRAP UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, IN THE HOT WATER TANK STORAGE CLOSET, UNDER THE NON-SLIP MATS AT THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER, AND UNDER THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED HOT WATER TANK STORAGE CLOSET WITH CLUTTER. ALSO, FOUND BROKEN DOWN CARDBOARD BOXES ON THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED DECLUTTER, ORGANIZE, AND REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD BOXES AN MAINTAIN.

JUN 13
2024
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
13 violations2 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND SOAP AVAILABLE AT HANDSINK IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDSOAP AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C) CITATION COMBINED WITH ABOVE.

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IN DISHWASHING AREA RENDERED INACCESSIBLE BY BASKET, UTENSILS, BRUSHES AND CONTAINER BEING PLACED INSIDE IT. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINKS OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE FOR HAND WASHING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

SERIOUSOther
PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

OBSERVED TCS FOODS (COOKED PORK, CHICKEN AND HAM, SOUP) HELD FOR OVER 24 HOURS WITH OUT DISCARD DATES. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE DISCARD DATE FOR ANY TCS FOODS HELD FOR OVER 24 HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

MINORChemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED ITEMS OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOODS AND SPICES WITH COMMON NAME THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD.

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

OBSERVED TORN/DAMAGED AND DIRTY RUBBER GASKET ON 2 DOOR OF THE COOLER IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE GASKET.

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

OBSERVED THE INSIDE OF THE DEEP FRYER OIL FILTERING UNIT WITH A BUILD UP OF GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, PREP TABLES, COOLERS, FREEZERS, SHELVING UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED MINOR LEAK UNDER THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN

MINORPest Activity
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED A HEAVY ACCUMULATION OF DIRT, DUST, GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON THE WALLS AND FLOORS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE HOT FOOD SERVICE LINE UNDER AND AROUND THE COOKING EQUIPMENT AND NON COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL AREAS.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATES MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

MAY 15
2023
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
3 violations2 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010.

CRITICALSanitation
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

OBSERVED NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEAN UP KIT AND PROCEDURE ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES AS OUTLINED IN POLICY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.

Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health. We'd love to link you straight to this restaurant's record — turns out Chicago considers that a luxury. The full dataset is what's on offer →

NEARBY IN BELMONT CRAGIN