FEB 24
2026
PASSED
2 violationsDETAILS
SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO
✕
TAQUERIA Y CARNITAS DON VALDEZ.
YOUR CALL. 73/100
3119 W LAWRENCE AVE · LINCOLN SQUARE, CHICAGO
Last inspected February 24, 2026 · passed
4 of 6 inspections passed, 2 failed. 1 critical violation across the record.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTIONS
6
4 passed · 2 failed
VIOLATIONS
22
includes 1 critical
RECORDS COVER
2 YEARS
since Jan 2024
INSPECTION HISTORY
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.
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 172025FAILED4 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
APR 17
2025
FAILED
4 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
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.
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.
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE PROVIDED IN THE WOMEN WASHROOM.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED ACCUMULATION OF DUST ON THE VENTILATION COVERS INSIDE THE WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
APR 22024PASSED5 violationsDETAILS
APR 2
2024
PASSED
5 violationsDETAILS
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.
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.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
6-202.11--INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT BULB AT FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA AND MAINTAIN.
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.
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 232024PASSED4 violationsDETAILS
JAN 23
2024
PASSED
4 violationsDETAILS
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.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
6-202.11/ INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT BULB AT FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA AND MAINTAIN.
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.
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 92024FAILED7 violationsDETAILS
JAN 9
2024
FAILED
7 violationsDETAILS
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.
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.
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).
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.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT BULB AT FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA AND MAINTAIN.
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.
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.
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 →