SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

PENELOPE'S VEGAN TAQUERIA #2.

EAT. 79/100

5204 N CLARK ST · UPTOWN, CHICAGO

Last inspected July 25, 2025 · passed

4 of 5 inspections passed, with 2 critical violations on file.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
5
4 passed · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
14
includes 2 critical
RECORDS COVER
2 YEARS
since Mar 2023

INSPECTION HISTORY

JUL 25
2025
PASSED
2 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
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.

MINORSanitation
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
PASSED
0 violations
OCT 29
2024
FAILED
7 violations2 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & 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.

CRITICALFood 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

SERIOUSSanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

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

MINOROther
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

MINORSanitation
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.

MINORDocumentation & 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.

MINORDocumentation & 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
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORDocumentation & 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.

MINORPlumbing & 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.

MINORSanitation
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
PASSED
2 violations
DETAILS
MINORPlumbing & 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.

MINORSanitation
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.

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 →

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