PENELOPE'S VEGAN TAQUERIA #2.

Chicago Health Dept

5204 N CLARK ST · UPTOWN, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Jul 2025).

5 inspections on record since 2023 · Last inspected Jul 2025.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
5
VIOLATIONS
14
total on record
LAST INSPECTED
JUL 2025

INSPECTION HISTORY

JUL 25
2025
PASS 2 violations
Minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD AT THE PREP LINE WITH OPEN SEAMS AND STAINS. MUST REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED WET MOP STORED IN THE BUCKET IN THE HALLWAY LEADING TO BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO HANG MOPS IN UTILITY AREA TO ALLOW TO DRY WHEN NOT IN USE.

NOV 6
2024
PASS · 0 violations
OCT 29
2024
FAIL 7 violations 2 CRITICAL
Critical Documentation & Training
PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

Critical Food Temperature
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

FOUND NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS (MEXICAN RICE, REFRIED BEANS, TACOS, BURRITOS ETC) ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE, A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES THAT TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY (TCS) FOOD IS BEING HANDLED. (CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ARRIVED 45 MINUTES LATER) PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED

Serious Sanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE WITH MINIMAL MINERAL DEPOSITS IN FRONT PREP AREA.

Minor Other
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

Minor Sanitation
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE BOXES 6" OFF THE FLOOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.

Minor Documentation & Training
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT# 2576610 ISSUED ON 06-01-2023 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #37 - OBSERVED BULK FOOD CONTAINERS ON SHELVING UNIT WITH NO LABELS IN REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE LABELS WITH FOOD NAMES ON ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING AND MAINTAIN. #51 - OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

JUN 1
2023
PASS 3 violations
Minor Documentation & Training
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED BULK FOOD CONTAINERS ON SHELVING UNIT WITH NO LABELS IN REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE LABELS WITH FOOD NAMES ON ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

5-204.12 OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED EXPOSED BRICK WALLS IN THE FRONT PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO SEAL THE EXPOSED BRICK WALL TO ENSURE A SMOOTH, NONABSORBENT, AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.

MAR 7
2023
PASS 2 violations
Minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED SOME DIRT ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS AND MAINTAIN THEM.

Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-07-05. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →

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