MAY 20
2025
PASSED
2 violationsDETAILS
SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO
✕
EL TERCO LEON TAQUERIA.
EAT. 86/100
7152 N CALIFORNIA AVE · WEST RIDGE, CHICAGO
Last inspected May 20, 2025 · passed
Passed all 6 inspections, but 5 critical violations on file.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTIONS
6
4 passed · 2 w/ conditions
VIOLATIONS
22
includes 5 critical
RECORDS COVER
5 YEARS
since Jan 2020
INSPECTION HISTORY
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED FOOD BUILD UP ON WALLS AT FRONT PREP AREA COOKLINE. MUST CLEAN WALLS AND MAINTAIN.
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
SOME FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITH NAMES OF EMPLOYEES ON PREMISES.
SEP 182024PASSED3 violationsDETAILS
SEP 18
2024
PASSED
3 violationsDETAILS
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
RICE AND BEANS BULK CONTAINERS NOT LABELED AT DRY STORAGE ROOM. MUST LABEL AND DATE BULK CONTAINERS.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED DIRT BUILD UP ON FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND CORNERS AT DISHWASH AREA. MUST CLEAN FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS.
OCT 132022PASS W/ CONDITIONS6 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
OCT 13
2022
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
6 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
THE HAND WASHING SINK WAS BLOCKED TWICE DURING THE INSPECTION WITH DISHES, CHEMICAL CONTAINERS, AND A POT OF RAW MEAT IN THE BACK PREPARATION AREA. HAND SINKS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AT ALL TIMES. ITEMS WERE RELOCATED ON-SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C) CITATION ISSUED.
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
CASES OF DRINKS AND CONTAINERS OF FOOD ARE STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACK PREPARATION AREA AND WALK-IN COOLER. ITEMS MUST BE AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR.
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
IN-USE WIPING CLOTHS ARE NOT STORED PROPERLY. FOUND ON PREPARATION SURFACES IN THE BACK PREP AND FRONT PREP AREA. CLOTHS USED TO WIPE SURFACES AND EQUIPMENT SHALL BE HELD IN A PROPER SANITIZER SOLUTION. CLOTHS IN-USE FOR WIPING SURFACES IN CONTACT WITH RAW ANIMAL FOODS SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM CLOTHS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
VEGETABLE CRATES ARE USED AS UTENSILS/EQUIPMENT STORAGE IN THE BACK PREPARATION AREA---CARDBOARD IS USED AS LINING UNDER THE MICROWAVE---DRY RAGS ARE USED AS LINING FOR SHELVES IN THE COOKLINE AND BACK PREP AREA. FACILITY MUST REMOVE FROM USE AND REPLACE WITH EQUIPMENT THAT IS DURABLE AND EASILY CLEANABLE, MEETING FOOD STANDARDS.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
CLUTTERED STORAGE ITEMS USED FOR THE FACILITY WERE FOUND ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACK AREA BEHIND THE OFFICE. THE CLUTTERED AREA IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AND CLEAN PROPERLY. STORAGE AREA SHALL BE KEPT OFF THE FLOOR AT LEAST 6 INCHES AND EASILY TO MONITOR FOR PEST/RODENT ACTIVITY AND CLEANING.
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
CERTIFIED CITY MANAGER'S ALLERGEN CERTIFICATES HAVE EXPIRED. THE FACILITY MUST PROVIDE UPDATED FOOD ALLERGEN CERTIFICATES FOR ALL CITY-CERTIFIED MANAGERS.
JAN 152021PASSED2 violationsDETAILS
JAN 15
2021
PASSED
2 violationsDETAILS
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
FOODHANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. MUST PROVIDE.
UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
FOUND FOOD CONTAINERS NOT STORED PROPELRY ON SHELVING UNITS.MUST STORE INVERTED.
show all 6 inspections →
JAN 32020PASS W/ CONDITIONS9 violations3 CRITICALDETAILS
JAN 3
2020
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
9 violations3 CRITICALDETAILS
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010 NO CITATION ISSUED.
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURE FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.
CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
MUST PROVIDE REMINDER AND DISCLOSURE AND ASTERISK ALL FOOD BEING SERVED MEDIUM RARE OR UNDERCOOKED ON THE MENU, PLACARDS OR ANY OTHER EFFECTIVE WRITTEN MEANS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
RAW WOOD ON THE FRONT COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO SEALED OR PAINT,MAKE IT SMOOTH EASILY CLEANBLE.
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE MOP SINK FAUCET. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO LOCATE TO BE ABLE TO SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
FLOOR INSIDE BOTH FURNACE ROOMS WITH DIRT,DUST. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
CEILING VENT COVER INSIDE THE WASHROOM WITH DUST ACCUMULATED. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
UNNECESSARY ITEMS,ARTICLES IN THE REAR STORAGE AREA CLOSE TO THE EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE,ORGANIZE THE AREA,ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF THE FLOOR TO PREVENT RODENT/INSECTS HARBORAGE.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
GREASE BUILD-UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FILTERS ON THE VENTILATION HOOD ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN,REMOVE GREASE AND MAINTAIN.
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 →