TAQUERIA EL PRIMO INC..

Chicago Health Dept

3500 W MONTROSE AVE · NORTH CENTER, CHICAGO

Last inspected 2013.

6 inspections on record since 2011 · Last inspected Jul 2013.

Last inspected Jul 2013. Records may not reflect current conditions.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

JUL 2013

INSPECTION HISTORY

JUL 3

2013

PASS 6 violations

Minor Chemical Safety

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

POTATO CHIPS PACKAGED FOR SALE WITH NO LABEL. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABEL, NAME OF THE PRODUCT, COMPANY'S NAME, ADDRESS, ZIP CODE, INGREDIENTS, FLAVORINGS AND ADDITIVES.

Minor Sanitation

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

ALL CLEAN MULTI USE UTENSILS POTS,PANS MUST BE STORED UPSIDE /DOWN INVERTED .

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD AROUND THE EXPOSED HAND SINK IN THE FRONT SERVING AREA. RUSTED LID OF THE CHEST FREEZER BY THE DISH WASHING AREA. MUST REMOVE RUST OR REPLACE. MUST DEFROST CHEST FREEZER IN THE SAME LOCATION(WITH HEAVY ICE BUILD-UP).

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL THE FLOOR THRU-OUT THE KITCHEN,DISH WASHING AREA,ALONG THE WALL BASE ALL CORNER,BEHIND AND UNDER ALL COOKING EQUIPMENTS. AND FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT,UNDER THE DINING TABLES IN THE DINING AREA. MISSING FLOOR DRAIN COVER IN THE FLOOR DRAIN IN THE BASEMENT. MUST PROVIDE.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL THE WALLS BEHIND THE GYROS SPIT, WALLS IN THE STORAGE AREA IN THE REAR CLOSE TO THE WALK IN COOLER, AND WALLS IN THE PREP AREA BEHIND THE DEEP FRYER AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED

ICE SCOOP STORED ON TOP OF THE ICE MAKER. INSTRUCTED TO STORE ICE SCOOP IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.

MAY 15

2013

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 6 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Food Temperature

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

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS NOT MEETING PROPER TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE PREP COOLER . RAW CHICKEN AT 45.6F, PORK AT 46.5F, AND CHORIZO AT 45.9F, INSIDE THE PREP COOLER. PREP COOLER TEMPERATURE AT 38.9F. GYROS AT 48.7F ON THE GYROS SPIT. MANAGER DISCARDED THE SAID MANAGER WORTH $50.00,TOTAL 10 LBS. CITATION ISSUED CRITICAL, 7-38-005A

Minor Chemical Safety

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

POTATO CHIP PACKAGED FOR SALE WITH NO LABEL. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABEL, NAME OF THE PRODUCT,COMPANY'S NAME.ADDRESS, ZIP CODE,INGREDIENTS, FLAVORING, AND ADDITIVES.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD AROUND THE EXPOSED HAND SINK IN THE FRONT SERVING AREA. RUSTED LID/COVER OF THE CHEST FREEZER BY THE DISH WASHING AREA. MUST REMOVE RUST OR REPLACE. MUST DEFROST CHEST FREEZER IN THE SAME LOCATION,WITH HEAVY ICE BUILD -UP.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL THE FLOOR THRU-OUT THE KITCHEN,DISH WASHING AREA , BASEMENT AND UNDER THE DINING TABLES IN THE DINING AREA. MISSING DRAIN FLOOR COVER IN THE FLOOR DRAIN IN THE BASEMENT. MUST PROVIDE.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL THE WALLS BEHND THE GYROS SPIT AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED

ICE SCOOP STORED ON TOP OF THE ICE MAKER. INSTRUCTED TO STORE ICE SCOOP ON A SEPARATE CONTAINER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.

SEP 21

2012

PASS 6 violations

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED, CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED ON STORAGE SHELVES AT REAR DISH WASHING AREA.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN GASKETS ON PREP REACH IN COOLER DOORS AT FRONT PREP AREA AND ON FREEZER DOOR AT REAR DISH WASHING AREA. ALSO INSTRUCTED TO SEAL WOOD SHELVING UNIT.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS

THE FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN/SANITIZE; COOLERS, COOKING EQUIPMENT, STORAGE SHELVES, BOTTOM PANELS OF PREP TABLES, FREEZER, STORAGE CABINETS, MICROWAVE OVEN, AND MOP SINK.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST CLEAN FLOORS, UNDER, BEHIND EQUIPMENT AT CORNERS AND ALONG WALLS THRU-OUT PREP AREAS, DISH WASHING AREA, STORAGE AREA AND BASEMENT.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES AT 1ST FLOOR STORAGE AREA AND BASEMENT, CLEAN AND ORGANIZE. ARTICLES MUST BE STORED OFF FLOORS, AWAY FROM WALLS.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED

INSTRUCTED, CLEANING TOWELS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED.

AUG 16

2012

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 13 violations 3 CRITICAL

Critical Food Temperature

FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE

FACITLITY NOT MAINTAINING PROPER TEMPERATURE. OBSERVED TWO DOORS PREP REACH IN COOLER AT 50.7F, INADEQUATE FOOD PROTECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR COOLER AND KEEP AT 40F OR BELOW. HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON UNIT, WHEN REPAIRED MUST FAX LETTER REQUESTING TAG REMOVAL. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED, 7-38-005(A).

Critical Food Temperature

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

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES; THE FOLLOWING FOOD ITEMS INSIDE THE ABOVE COOLER; 8LBS COOKED PORK AT 68F, 5LBS CUT TOMATOES AT 70.01, 6LBS CHEESE 52.8F, 3LBS HAM AT 50.7. INADEQUATE FOOD PROTECTION. INSTRUCTED COLD POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MUST BE AT 40F OR BELOW. FOOD DISCARDED, V=$200. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED, 7-38-005(A).

Critical Food Temperature

SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME

OBSERVED EMPLOYEE, WASHING, RINSING, MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SETTING THEM TO DRY WITHOUT USING A SANITIZING METHOD. INSTRUCTED/DEMOSTRATED PROPER SET-UP OF 3PART SINK FOR PROPER SANITATION WITH 100PPM CHLORINE. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED, 7-38-030.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED, CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED ON STORAGE SHELVES AT REAR DISH WASHING AREA.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN GASKETS ON PREP REACH IN COOLER DOORS AT FRONT PREP AREA AND ON FREEZER DOOR AT REAR DISH WASHING AREA. ALSO INSTRUCTED TO SEAL WOOD SHELVING UNIT.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS

THE FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN/SANITIZE; COOLERS, COOKING EQUIPMENT, STORAGE SHELVES, BOTTOM PANELS OF PREP TABLES, FREEZER, STORAGE CABINETS, MICROWAVE OVEN, AND MOP SINK.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST CLEAN FLOORS, UNDER, BEHIND EQUIPMENT AT CORNERS AND ALONG WALLS THRU-OUT PREP AREAS, DISH WASHING AREA, STORAGE AREA AND BASEMENT.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REPAINT WALLS THRU-OUT DISH WASHING AREA AND STORAGE ROOM, REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING PANELS AT REAR DISH WASHING AREA AND DINING AREA, REPAIR WALL UNDER 3PART SINK, SEAL OPENINGS AT SAME AREA.

Minor Facility Condition

LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED

MUST REPLACE MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS ABOVE FRONT PREP AREA.

Minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES AT 1ST FLOOR STORAGE AREA AND BASEMENT, CLEAN AND ORGANIZE. ARTICLES MUST BE STORED OFF FLOORS, AWAY FROM WALLS.

Minor Employee Hygiene

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

INSTRUCTED, FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED

INSTRUCTED, CLEANING TOWELS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED.

Minor Other

ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL IN THE FOOD-PREP AREA

INSTRUCTED ONLY AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES CAN BE IN THE FOOD-PREP AREAS.

MAR 2

2011

PASS · 0 violations

show all 6 inspections →

FEB 28

2011

FAIL 7 violations 1 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

Front (outermost) and rear doors not insect/rodent proof. Must seal openings to outside to prevent pest entry.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS

Accumulated grease and food debris on fryer and cooking equipment, interior of ice machine, cabinets. Must clean and maintain same.

Minor Sanitation

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

Missing coving in women's washroom, coving in men's washroom in poor repair. Cracked and broken floor tiles in cooking area. Must repair and maintain same.

Minor Sanitation

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

Water stained and damaged ceiling tiles in some areas. Dust accumulated on ceiling vents, must clean. Repair ceiling in basement by storage area. Accumulated grease in ventilation hoods, must clean. Walls by basement mop sink with peeling paint, must re-finish to be smooth and easily cleanable. cracked and broken wall tiles in kitchen areas. Must repair and maintain same.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED

Missing lightshields above rear produce storage. Must install lightshields ot shatter-resistant bulbs.

Minor Facility Condition

REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

Some coolers/freezers missing conspicuously placed thermometers. Must provide thermometers by the door in all units. Must provide metal stem thermometer (0F-220F).

Minor Other

NO SMOKING REGULATIONS

Additional "no smoking" sign needed at front entrance.

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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