TAQUERIA EL DORADO.

Chicago Health Dept

3246 W LAWRENCE AVE · LINCOLN SQUARE, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Jun 2025), 1 critical violation noted.

7 inspections on record since 2021 · Last inspected Jun 2025.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
7
VIOLATIONS
26
total on record
LAST INSPECTED
JUN 2025

INSPECTION HISTORY

JUN 25
2025
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 5 violations 1 CRITICAL
Serious Facility Condition
PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

OBSERVED TCS FOOD ITEMS (FRIED PLANTAINS, REFRIED BEANS) IN THE KITCHEN AREA 1-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER MISSING ADEQUATE DATE LABELS. INSTRUCTED TO DENATUR AND DISCARD FOOD WITHOUT DATE LABELS AND PROVIDE DATE LABELS OR MARKINGS ON ALL TCS FOOD CONTAINERS TO ENSURE PREPARED FOOD DOES NOT EXCEED 7 DAYS BEFORE DISPOSITION AND MAINTAIN. APPROXIMATELY 15 LBS OF FOOD VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $35.00 DISCARDED ON-SITE. PERSON-IN-CHARGE DENATURED AND DISCARDED FOOD WITHOUT DATE LABELS AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Chemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED TO-GO CONTAINERS OF FLAN AND JELLO MADE ON-SITE BY FACILITY STAFF MISSING APPROPRIATE FOOD LABELS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOOD LABELS FOR TO-GO ITEMS INCLUDING THE NAME OF THE FOOD, THE NAME OF THE FACILITY, AND THE ADDRESS OF THE FACILITY AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS (JALAPENOS, ONIONS, CHILES) IN CONTAINERS STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR KITCHEN AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE FOOD CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN FOOD AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR AT ALL TIMES.

Critical Plumbing & Waste
SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

OBSERVED CONDENSATE WATER LINE OF 1-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER DISCHARGING INTO BUCKET ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO RE-ROUTE OR REPLACE WATER LINE AND MAINTAIN CONDENSATE DRAINAGE THAT ROUTES DIRECTLY FROM POINT OF DISCHARGE TO DISPOSAL INTO PLUMBING AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED BUILD UP OF GREASE ON GROUND IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE REAR FACILITY DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN OUTDOOR AREAS OF FACILITY AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE OR OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.

MAR 6
2024
PASS · 0 violations
FEB 28
2024
FAIL 11 violations 1 CRITICAL
Critical Employee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT ALL HAND SINKS (PREP, WASHROOM).

Serious Food Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF (TCS FOODS) INSIDE OF THE KITCHEN REFRIGERATOR.OBSERVED COOKED REFRIED BEANS AT 55.9F.INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN ALL COLD (TCS) FOODS AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROX.20 LBS OF FOOD WORTH $100.00.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Employee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

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

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

OBSERVED CHIPPED PAINT AND RUST ON THE WIRE STORAGE RACKS IN THE KITCHEN REFRIGERATOR LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE COOKING GRILL.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CHIPPED PAINT AND RUST AND REPAINT OR REPLACE THE SHELVES AND MAINTAIN.

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

OBSERVED RAW WOOD SHELVES NEAR THE KITCHEN 2 DOOR PREP LINE COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO PAINT OR SEAL THE SHELVES SO THAT THEY SMOOTH,EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES AND MAINTAIN.

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

OBSERVED FROZEN FOODS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS INSIDE OF THE FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS OR CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE AND PREP COOLERS AND KITCHEN STORAGE RACKS.

Minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT BASE OF FAUCET AT THE DISHWASHING 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND MANTAIN.

Minor Pest Activity
GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

FOUND OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTER OVERFLOWING WITH TRASH AND BOXES.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.LID/COVER MUST BE KEPT CLOSED TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020,(b) CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Pest Activity
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED OUTSIDE REAR OF THE PREMISES NOT MAINTAINED STORING UNNECESSARY ARTICLES UNUSED COOLERS,SOILED CARDBOARD BOXES PILED UP,MOP BUCKETS,EMPTY BUCKETS AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TOOLS ETC.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY MENTIONED ITEMS FROM THE PREMISES DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ACCUMULATION ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS THROUGHOUT PREP/COOKING AREA ESPECIALLY UNDER AND AROUND COOKING EQUIPMENTS.

APR 4
2023
PASS · 0 violations
MAR 28
2023
FAIL 1 violation
Serious Employee Hygiene
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED WITHIN SPECIFIED TIMEFRAME. REPORT #2560962 DATED JULY 19TH 2022 INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO: REPAINT OR RESURFACE RUSTY RACKS IN COOLERS, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF COOLERS; REPAIR (2) SLOW DRAINING HAND WASHING SINKS IN PREP/ DISH AREA, AND CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS AND WALLS. OBSERVED RUSTY RACKS INSIDE VARIOUS COOLERS IN KITCHEN; OBSERVED VARIOUS COOLERS WITH FOOD DEBRIS ON INTERIOR; OBSERVED SLOW DRAINING HAND WASHING SINKS IN DISH AREA AND IN PREP AREA; OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AMONG FLOORS AND WALLS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CORRECT ALL PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.

show all 7 inspections →
JUL 19
2022
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 6 violations
Minor Other
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

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

INSTRUCTED TO REPAINT OR REPLACE RUSTY METAL RACKS INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

Minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL COOLERS WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ACCUMULATION.

Minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR SLOW DRAINING (2) HANDSINK IN PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS PREP/COOKING AREA.

Minor Documentation & Training
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT# 2509494 ISSUED ON 05-11-2021 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #58 - OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.

MAY 11
2021
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 3 violations 1 CRITICAL
Critical Sanitation
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

OBSERVED NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURE OR SUPPLIES ON THE PREMISES TO RESPOND TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE BOTH. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.

Minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

THERE IS NO WORKING VENTILATION FAN IN THE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A VENTILATION FAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.

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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