Cafe El Tapatio

July 17, 2026 · Fail

cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings12
critical findings1

Failed findings

handwashing sink blocked or barecritical

Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
Inspector note: OBSERVED HANDSINK IN BASEMENT PREP AND BAR NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HANDSINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED HAND SOAP FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED. • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWEL HAND-SINK IN THE BASMENT PREP AND BAR AREA. INFORMED PERSON IN AT CHARGE THAT PAPER TOWELS MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HAND SINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED PAPER TOWEL FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION COMBINED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION.
code 10Priority
surfaces not properly sanitized

Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE ICE BIN INTERIOR IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
code 16
cold food not cold enough

Official wording: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
Inspector note: NOTED INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD ITEMS INSIDE THE COLD HOLDING COOLER IN REAR PREP TO BE IMPROPER: STEAK 57.2F, CHICKEN AT 56.4F, SHRIMP AT 83.8F, SHELLED EGGS AT 53.6F, PORK (CARNITAS) AT 50.6F. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY AND VOLUNTARILY DISPOSED OF 20 LBS OF PRODUCTS WORTH $1250.00 THROUGH DENATURING PROCESS. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
code 22
food not cooled down right

Official wording: Proper Date Marking And Disposition
Inspector note: OBSERVED READY TO EAT, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (CHICKEN, PORK, SOUP, REFRIED BEANS, RICE, FISH, SHRIMP CEVICHE) NOT PROPERLY DATED, STORED LONGER THAN 24 HOURS IN COOLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER DATE MARKING WITH DISPOSITION DATE FOR RTE FOODS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD OVER 24 HOURS IN COLD HOLDING UNIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. ISSUED. 7-38-005
code 23
food prep surfaces dirty

Official wording: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment For Temperature Control
Inspector note: NOTED TEMPERATURE OF 4 DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT UNDER FLAT TOP GRILL IN PREP TO BE IMPROPER AT 50F. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL EQUIPMENT IS MAINTAINING PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 41F AND BELOW. PERSON IN CHARGE SERVICED COOLER UNIT DURING INSPECTION. COOLER UNIT WAS OBSERVED AT 41F AT THE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
code 33
food improperly labeled

Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
Inspector note: NOTED NO LABELS FOR BULK STORAGE CONTAINERS (FLOUR AND SUGAR). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH CONTENTS NAME.
code 37
Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display

Inspector note: OBSERVED DRY RICE AND DRIED BEAN BAGS SITTING ON FLOOR IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
code 39
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING. • OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL USED AS LINER ON FOOD PREP EQUIPMENT AND PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
code 47
Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips

Inspector note: OBSERVED WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM 2ND SINK BASIN, WATER BACKS UP INTO 1ST AND 3RD SINK BASINS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR BEFORE RE-INSPECTION DATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
code 48
plumbing acting up

Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN.
code 49
bathroom / plumbing issues

Official wording: Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
Inspector note: OBSERVED HANDSINK IN BASEMENT PREP AREA LEAKING INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MIANTAIN.
code 51
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED A HOLE IN THE BASMENT CEILING PREP AREA INSTRUCTED TO SEAL.
code 55

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass w/ Conditions on May 14, 2025: 6 findings appeared for the first time. 6 findings recurred. 4 previous findings did not recur.

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About this record

This record comes from Chicago Department of Public Health. Cooked keeps the official result and wording separate from its plain-English explanation so you can verify what the inspector actually published.

Source: Chicago Data Portal.