TAQUERIA Y CARNITAS DON VALDEZ.

Chicago Health Dept

3119 W LAWRENCE AVE · LINCOLN SQUARE, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Feb 2026).

6 inspections on record since 2024 · Last inspected Feb 2026.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
6
VIOLATIONS
22
total on record
LAST INSPECTED
FEB 2026

INSPECTION HISTORY

FEB 24
2026
PASS 2 violations
Minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED CORN TORTILLAS STORED IN A GROCERY BAG IN THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE FRONT SERVING AREA. INSTRUCTED NOT TO STORE TORILLAS IN SINGLE SERVICE BAGS AND TO INSTEAD STORE IN FOOD GRADE BAGS OR CONTAINERS.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED WET MOPS STORED IN DISHWASHING/PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO HANG WET MOPS TO ALLOW TO DRY WHEN NOT IN USE.

APR 25
2025
PASS · 0 violations
APR 17
2025
FAIL 4 violations 1 CRITICAL
Critical Pest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED THE PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK NOT MAINTAINED.THE LAST PEST INSPECTION REPORT WAS DATED 12/19/2023.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 2 PEST INSPECTION REPORTS PER YEAR AS REQUIRED AND MAINTAIN THEM IN THE PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK FOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(C),CITATION ISSUED.

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 MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE PROVIDED IN THE WOMEN WASHROOM.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED ACCUMULATION OF DUST ON THE VENTILATION COVERS INSIDE THE WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

APR 2
2024
PASS 5 violations
Minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED MISSING SPLASHGUARD AT UTILITY MOP SINK.INTRUCTED TO INSTALL A WASHABLE SPLASHGUARD AT LEFT SIDE OF THE UTILITY MOP SINK AND MAINTAIN.

Serious Sanitation
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

4-603.15/ OBSERVED LARGE POT USED TO COOK CARNITAS IN THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN APPROVED ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE POTS OR PROVIDE SMALLER POTS THAT CAN BE SUBMERGED IN THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.

Minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

6-202.11--INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT BULB AT FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

2-102.13--OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

2-102.13--OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE.ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.

JAN 23
2024
PASS 4 violations
Serious Sanitation
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

4-603.15/ OBSERVED LARGE POT USED TO COOK CARNITAS IN THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN APPROVED ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE POTS OR PROVIDE SMALLER POTS THAT CAN BE SUBMERGED IN THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.

Minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

6-202.11/ INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT BULB AT FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

2-102.13/ OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

2-102.13/ OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE.ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.

show all 6 inspections →
JAN 9
2024
FAIL 7 violations
Serious Food Temperature
PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED COOKED (TCS FOODS) PORK CARNITAS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES STORED ON THE FOOD PREP COUNTER.INTERNAL TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM (112.6F-126.3F).MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 15#'S OF FOOD WORTH $200.00.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO HOT HOLD (TCS FOODS) AT 135F OR HOTTER AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.

Serious Other
CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENU FOR RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE OR DESCRIBE WHICH FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED AND LINK THOSE ITEMS TO THE REMINDER STATEMENT ON THE MENU. MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE BEFORE THE REMINDER STATEMENT:"THESE FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED OR MAY CONTAIN RAW OR UNDERCOOKED INGREDIENTS." PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Minor Chemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

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

Serious Sanitation
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED LARGE POT USED TO COOK CARNITAS IN THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN APPROVED ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE POTS OR PROVIDE SMALLER POTS THAT CAN BE SUBMERGED IN THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.

Minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT BULB AT FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE.ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.

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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