Restaurante El Comalito

Name: Restaurante El Comalito
Address: 2234 N WESTERN AVE, Chicago, IL, 60647

Chicago Health Dept

2234 N WESTERN AVE · LOGAN SQUARE, CHICAGO

Last inspected 2019.

9 inspections on record since 2013 · Last inspected May 2019.

Last inspected May 2019. Records may not reflect current conditions.

The numbers

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

MAY 2019

Inspection history

MAY 22

2019

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 14 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Documentation & Training

MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICY.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)

Critical Sanitation

PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY PROCEDURE AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)

Serious Food Storage & Handling

PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

OBSERVED SOME MISSING DATE MRKINGS ON TCS READY TO EAT FOODS HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS INSIDE OF COOLERS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)

Serious Other

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER OF THE RISK OF CONSUMING RAW AND UNDERCOOKED FOODS ON MENUS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)

Minor Other

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

MUST PROVIDE A THERMOMETER FOR SMALL REFRIGERATOR IN PREP AREA.

Minor Sanitation

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS INSIDE OF SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE WORN DOOR GASKETS ON REAR 2- DOOR REACH IN COOLER.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST ELIMINATE GROCERY BAGS USED FOR FOOD STORAGE AND PROVIDE FOOD GRADE BAGS.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

MUST CLEAN DEBRIS FROM COOLERS AND TABLE.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

MUST SCRAPE AND PAINT PEELING PAINT ON WALLS IN DINING AREA.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

MUST CLEAN DEBRIS FROM FLOOR UNDER,AROUND AND ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT PREMISES.

Minor Sanitation

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM HOOD AND FILTERS.

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING IN PREP AREA.

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD MANAGERS .MUST ENROLL AND MAINTAIN.

FEB 2

2018

PASS 2 violations

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

Observed rice being stored inside a plastic grocery bag. Instructed facility to store all foods in food grade materials only and to maintain.

Minor Sanitation

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

Observed cardboard being used on the floor in front of the three compartment sink. Instructed facility to remove and maintain. Observed the floor to have dirt and debris on it throughout under and around equipment. Instructed facility to clean and maintain.

JAN 13

2017

PASS 4 violations

Minor Sanitation

WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS

OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON CEILING ABOVE PREP COOLER IN FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND WALL NEXT TO 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPAINT AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS

OBSERVED TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING. MUST PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE.

Minor Food Temperature

REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

THERMOMETER NEEDED INSIDE FRONT PREP COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. STEM THERMOMETER NEEDED TO MONITOR FOOD TEMPERATURES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Other

FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET

FOOD HANDLERS REQUIREMENTS NOT MET NO LOGS, RECORDS ON SITE AS REQUIRED. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

MAR 14

2016

PASS 2 violations

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

NOTED FOOD ITEMS STORED IN GROCERY BAGS INSIDE ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS. INSTRUCTED TO STORE FOOD ITEMS INSIDE A CLEAN CONTAINER WITH LID OR INSIDE AN APPROVED FOOD GRADE CONTAINER.

Minor Pest Activity

PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED

NOTED SLIGHT CLUTTER ON SHELVING AT THE REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, ORGANIZE AND/OR REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ARTICLES TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST.

MAR 12

2015

PASS 4 violations

Minor Facility Condition

FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

MUST LABEL AND DATE ALL PREPARED FOOD ITEMS INSIDE 2-DOOR REFRIGERATOR.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

PREMISES USING PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS TO STORE MEATS INSIDE THE REAR CHEST FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED TO USE A FOOD GRADE PLASTIC BAGS.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED

OBSERVED WASHROOM VENTILATION NOT WORKING. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHES STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

show all 9 inspections →

SEP 12

2014

PASS · 0 violations

SEP 5

2014

FAIL 6 violations 3 CRITICAL

Critical Food Temperature

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE

FOUND 15 POUNDS OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS (CHICKEN, PORK, AND BEEF) AT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 47.6F-61.1F. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO KEEP COLD FOODS AT 40F OR BELOW AND HOT FOODS AT 140F OR ABOVE AND MAINTAIN. OPERATOR VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED SAID FOOD. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005(A).

Critical Sanitation

HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.

OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WASHING HANDS IN THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND OBSERVED AN EMPLOYEE ATTEMPT TO HANDLE FOOD CONTACT UTENSILS WITHOUT WASHING HANDS PRIOR AFTER HANDLING RAW CHICKEN. INSTRUCTED FACILITY THAT FOOD HANDLERS MUST WASH HANDS AT EVERY POINT OF POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION IN THE EXPOSED HANDSINK. CRITICAL VIOLATION ISSUED 7-38-010(A).

Critical Pest Activity

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

FOUND APPROXIMATELY 70 ANTS ALONG THE BACK, WEST WALL NEAR THE 2 DOOR COOLER. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO REMOVE ALL PESTS AND MAINTAIN. RECOMMEND TO CONTACT PEST CONTROL SERVICE. ALSO FOUND AN INCOMPLETE LOG BOOK ON SITE. NO LIST OF BAIT STATIONS OR SITE MAP FOUND, NO COMPANY LICENSE NUMBER ON REPORT OR COPY PROVIDED. FACILITY PROVIDED 2 REPORTS (11-18-13 & 1-20-14). INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO CONTACT PEST CONTROL SERVICE TO OBTAIN A LOG BOOK AND MAINTAIN IT. SERIOUS CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020.

Minor Chemical Safety

FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

NO CONSUMER ADVISORY POSTED ON SITE. PROVIDED ADVISORY TO POST. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN. FOUND FOOD ITEMS IN PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO STORE FOOD ONLY IN FOOD GRADE MATERIALS AND/OR CONTAINERS AND TO MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES

INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO STORE ALL CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS INVERTED AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Employee Hygiene

APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN

INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS WEAR PROPER HAIR RESTRAINTS AND TO MAINTAIN.

NOV 21

2013

PASS · 0 violations

NOV 14

2013

FAIL 3 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

NO PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK ON SITE WITH UP TO DATE PEST CONTROL REPORTS, AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THATS NEEDED INSIDE LOG BOOK, BUSINESS LICENSE, CHEMICALS USED, MAP, ETC., AND REAR DOOR NOT RODENT PROOF, MUST SEAL,

Critical Pest Activity

OUTSIDE GARBAGE WASTE GREASE AND STORAGE AREA; CLEAN, RODENT PROOF, ALL CONTAINERS COVERED

NO OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTERS ON SITE AT THIS TIME OF INSPECTION, MUST PROVIDE,

Serious Other

* CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED

NO PROOF OF CITY OF CHICAGO CERT., PROOF OF ENROLLMENT OR ACTUAL CERT., MUST BE PROVIDE AT TIME OF INSPECTION,

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 →

Report an error on this page →