SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

TACO BOOM.

YOUR CALL. 74/100

5116 N LINCOLN AVE · LINCOLN SQUARE, CHICAGO

Last inspected July 21, 2025 · passed with conditions

4 of 6 inspections passed, 1 failed, 1 passed with conditions. 1 critical violation across the record.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
6
4 passed · 1 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
15
includes 1 critical
RECORDS COVER
3 YEARS
since Aug 2021

INSPECTION HISTORY

JUL 21
2025
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
3 violations
DETAILS
SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER COOLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE

OBSERVED TWO CONTAINERS OF COOKED BEANS AT 85.6F IN THE 2-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER, FAILED TO COOL FROM 135.0F TO 70.0F WITHIN 2 HOURS. INSTRUCTED TO DENATURE AND DISCARD ALL TCS FOOD ITEMS THAT FAILED TO COOL AT PROPER TIME AND TEMPERATURES AND INSTRUCTED TO COOL TCS FOOD ITEMS FROM 135.0F TO 70.0F WITHIN 2 HOURS, AND FROM 70.0F TO 41.0F OR BELOW WITHIN 4 HOURS, FOR A TOTAL OF 6 HOURS UTILIZING APPROVED METHODS SUCH AS ICE BATHS, ICE WANDS, OR DISTRIBUTING FOOD INTO SMALLER CONTAINERS. APPROXIMATELY 30 LBS. OF FOOD VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $75.00 DISCARDED ON-SITE. PERSON-IN-CHARGE DENATURED AND DISCARDED ALL MENTIONED TCS FOOD ON-SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEE IN THE MAIN KITCHEN AREA WEARING ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINT BUT MISSING ADEQUATE BEARD RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE BEARD RESTRAINTS FOR ALL REQUIRED FOOD EMPLOYEES WHEN HANDLING OR PREPARING FOOD AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED MOP STORED IN THE UTILITY SINK CLOSET WITH MOP HEAD IN CONTACT WITH WALL SURFACE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE MOPS SUCH THAT SOILED MOP HEADS DO NOT CONTAMINATE FLOORS, WALLS, OR OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES WHILE DRYING AND MAINTAIN.

JUL 22
2024
PASSED
4 violations
DETAILS
MINORChemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS IN REAR WITHOUT A LABEL.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE COMMON NAME ON ALL BULK CONTAINERS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY ITEM (SALT, SUGAR, FLOUR ETC).

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.

MINORSanitation
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE ALL WASHCLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION ESPECIALLY WHEN NOT IN USE.

MINORFacility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED MISSING LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT FIXTURE AT KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

SEP 1
2023
PASSED
0 violations
AUG 30
2023
FAILED
3 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED MARINATED BEEF WITH AN INADEQUATE TEMPERATURE OF 48 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COLD FOODS ARE HELD AT 41 F AND BELOW. MANAGER DISCARDED 10 POUNDS OF MARINATED BEEF ($70). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

SERIOUSOther
CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

OBSERVED MENU WITH DISCLOSURE STATEMENT BUT NO REMINDER ASTERISK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INCLUDE ASTERISK FOR REMINDER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED

CRITICALPlumbing & Waste
SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

OBSERVED WASTE WATER BACKING UP FROM THE FLOOR DRAIN IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA WHEN THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IS DRAINED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SO THAT THE FLOOR DRAIN IS NOT BACKING UP WITH WASTE WATER. PRIORITY 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

SEP 19
2022
PASSED
4 violations
DETAILS
MINOROther
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE AND ACCURATE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKY DRAINPIPE UNDERNEATH HANDSINK IN PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

FOOD HANDLERS WITH INCOMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER IN CHARGE WIHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.

show all 6 inspections →
AUG 4
2021
PASSED
1 violation
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE WOMEN'S WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE.

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 LINCOLN SQUARE