El Nopal

• resultFail
• critical violations1
• last inspectedFebruary 13, 2018
• address3648 W 26Th St, Chicago 60623
• cuisineBakery

Is El Nopal clean?

El Nopal is currently Fail from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on February 13, 2018. Inspectors wrote up 1 critical violation — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads cooked 🪳.

What did inspectors find at El Nopal?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on February 13, 2018, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• ⚠️Previous Serious Violation Corrected, 7-42-090 • PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2144479 2/218.#18 STILL FINDING EVIDENCE OF APPX. 100 OR MORE RAT AND MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT PREMISES.OBSERVED DROPPINGS ON LOWER SHELF OF DOUGH MACHINE,ON FOOD STORAGE SHELVING UNITS IN BETWEEN OPEN BAGS OF (FLOUR,COCOA,ETC),REAR STORAGE CLOSET NEXT TO HEATER,ON FLOOR UNDER FOOD STORAGE SHELVES,IN REAR AREA IN BETWEEN CLUTTER AND LOCKERS,NEAR REAR HAND SINK AND SHOWER STALL AREA,UNDER BASEMENT STAIRS AND ALONG WALLS,ON TOP OF UNUSED DOUGH PRESSOR IN REAR STORAGE AREA.ALSO,APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP IN CENTER OF FRONT DOUBLE DOORS AND REAR DOOR ALONG SIDE.MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS ,CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS.RODENT PROOF THE DOORS.RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 2/13/18.(CRITICAL 7-42-090)critical
  Previous Serious Violation Corrected, 7-42-090 • PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2144479 2/218.#18 STILL FINDING EVIDENCE OF APPX. 100 OR MORE RAT AND MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT PREMISES.OBSERVED DROPPINGS ON LOWER SHELF OF DOUGH MACHINE,ON FOOD STORAGE SHELVING UNITS IN BETWEEN OPEN BAGS OF (FLOUR,COCOA,ETC),REAR STORAGE CLOSET NEXT TO HEATER,ON FLOOR UNDER FOOD STORAGE SHELVES,IN REAR AREA IN BETWEEN CLUTTER AND LOCKERS,NEAR REAR HAND SINK AND SHOWER STALL AREA,UNDER BASEMENT STAIRS AND ALONG WALLS,ON TOP OF UNUSED DOUGH PRESSOR IN REAR STORAGE AREA.ALSO,APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP IN CENTER OF FRONT DOUBLE DOORS AND REAR DOOR ALONG SIDE.MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS ,CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS.RODENT PROOF THE DOORS.RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 2/13/18.(CRITICAL 7-42-090)
• 🌡️hot/cold holding temps off
  * Certified Food Manager On Site When Potentially Hazardous Foods Are Prepared And Served • Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANGER ON DUTY AND NO CERTIFICATE POSTED TO VIEW WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED,HANDLED AND SERVED AT THIS TIME (CAKES,FLAN,LECHE CAKES,ETC).MUST PROVIDE AND POST AND BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.(SERIOUS 7-38-012)
• ⚠️Food In Original Container, Properly Labeled: Customer Advisory Posted As Needed • Inspector Comments: MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE.MUST LABEL PACKAGED BAKED GOODS FOR SALE WITH PROPER INFO GIVEN.
  Food In Original Container, Properly Labeled: Customer Advisory Posted As Needed • Inspector Comments: MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE.MUST LABEL PACKAGED BAKED GOODS FOR SALE WITH PROPER INFO GIVEN.
• ⚠️Clean Multi-Use Utensils And Single Service Articles Properly Stored: No Reuse Of Single Service Articles • Inspector Comments: MUST INVERT MULTIUSE UTENSILS ON DISH STORAGE SHELVING UNITS AND PAN CARTS.
  Clean Multi-Use Utensils And Single Service Articles Properly Stored: No Reuse Of Single Service Articles • Inspector Comments: MUST INVERT MULTIUSE UTENSILS ON DISH STORAGE SHELVING UNITS AND PAN CARTS.
• ⚠️Food And Non-Food Contact Surfaces Properly Designed, Constructed And Maintained • Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE BROKEN DOOR TO TOOL STORAGE.MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD IN BETWEEN HAND SINK AND 1- COMPARTMENT SINK.MUST PROVIDE FOOD GRADE BAGS FOR FOOD STORAGE AND ELIMINATE GARBAGE BAGS.
  Food And Non-Food Contact Surfaces Properly Designed, Constructed And Maintained • Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE BROKEN DOOR TO TOOL STORAGE.MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD IN BETWEEN HAND SINK AND 1- COMPARTMENT SINK.MUST PROVIDE FOOD GRADE BAGS FOR FOOD STORAGE AND ELIMINATE GARBAGE BAGS.
• 🧫food prep surfaces dirty
  Food And Non-Food Contact Equipment Utensils Clean, Free Of Abrasive Detergents • Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN EXCESSIVE GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS FROM PREP TABLES,UNUSED AND USED REACH IN COOLERS AND FREEZER,STORAGE SHELVES AND RACKS,1 & 3- COMP & HAND SINK BASINS,ROLLING CARTS AND RACKS,FLOOR MIXERS,STOVE,FRYER,DOUGH MACHINE,DOUGH PRESSOR.
• ⚠️Floors: Constructed Per Code, Cleaned, Good Repair, Coving Installed, Dust-Less Cleaning Methods Used • Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP ON FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT PREMISES INCLUDING BASEMENT AND FLOOR DRAINS.MUST REMOVE FOUL STANDING WATER ON BASEMENT FLOOR AND KEEP DRY.MUST GROUT THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF 1- COMP SINK AND WHERE NEEDED.MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE MISSING FLOOR TILES UNDER PREP TABLES ALONG WALL AND WHERE NEEDED.
  Floors: Constructed Per Code, Cleaned, Good Repair, Coving Installed, Dust-Less Cleaning Methods Used • Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP ON FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT PREMISES INCLUDING BASEMENT AND FLOOR DRAINS.MUST REMOVE FOUL STANDING WATER ON BASEMENT FLOOR AND KEEP DRY.MUST GROUT THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF 1- COMP SINK AND WHERE NEEDED.MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE MISSING FLOOR TILES UNDER PREP TABLES ALONG WALL AND WHERE NEEDED.
• ⚠️Walls, Ceilings, Attached Equipment Constructed Per Code: Good Repair, Surfaces Clean And Dust-Less Cleaning Methods • Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS FROM WALLS THROUGHOUT PREMISES (PREP & STORAGE AREAS),LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP & STORAGE AREAS.MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED AND MISSING WALL TILES AND WALL ABOVE 3- COMP SINK,DAMAGED WALL NEAR EAST REAR DOOR AND WHERE NEEDED.MUST SEAL GAP BETWEEN WALLS AND FLOOR THROUGHOUT PREMISES.
  Walls, Ceilings, Attached Equipment Constructed Per Code: Good Repair, Surfaces Clean And Dust-Less Cleaning Methods • Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS FROM WALLS THROUGHOUT PREMISES (PREP & STORAGE AREAS),LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP & STORAGE AREAS.MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED AND MISSING WALL TILES AND WALL ABOVE 3- COMP SINK,DAMAGED WALL NEAR EAST REAR DOOR AND WHERE NEEDED.MUST SEAL GAP BETWEEN WALLS AND FLOOR THROUGHOUT PREMISES.
• 🌡️thermometers missing
  Lighting: Required Minimum Foot-Candles Of Light Provided, Fixtures Shielded • Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING IN ALL STORAGE AREAS.MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP AREA.MUST REPLACE OR REPAIR CRACKED LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP AND FOOD STORAGE AREAS,STAINED & MISSING CEILING TILES IN REAR AREA AND WHERE NEEDED.
• 🪳pests in the house
  Ventilation: Rooms And Equipment Vented As Required: Plumbing: Installed And Maintained • Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE LEAKY PIPE IN BASEMENT,SLOW DRAIN AT REAR PREP & FRONT TOILET ROOM HAND SINKS,LEAKY FRONT 1ST FL. TOILET.MUST PLACE STOVE UNDER VENTILATION HOOD.MUST PROVIDE SINK STOPPERS FOR 3- COMP SINK,LIDS ON BASEMENT SUMP PUMPS.MUST INSTALL A HAND SINK CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE PREP AREA FOR HAND WASHING WITH HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER
• 🧻grimy wiping cloths
  Premises Maintained Free Of Litter, Unnecessary Articles, Cleaning Equipment Properly Stored • Inspector Comments: MUST ELEVATE,REMOVE AND ORGANIZE ARTICLES OFF OF FLOOR AND AWAY FROM WALLS IN STORAGE AREAS,PREP AREAS,REAR AREA,BASEMENT.
• ⚠️Food Handler Requirements Met • Inspector Comments: IDPH FOOD HANDLERS REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET FOR EMPLOYEES.MUST ENROLL AND MAINTAIN.
  Food Handler Requirements Met • Inspector Comments: IDPH FOOD HANDLERS REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET FOR EMPLOYEES.MUST ENROLL AND MAINTAIN.

When was El Nopal last inspected?

El Nopal has 4 inspections on record going back to December 7, 2017.

El Nopal vs South Lawndale

South Lawndale runs 64% clean across 668 tracked restaurants — 427 clean, 92 mid, 146 cooked.

Against the 668 spots Cooked tracks in South Lawndale, this one comes out cleaner than 18% of them.

Other spots in South Lawndale

• ✓ Taqueria Coral, Inc.
  clean · December 1, 2020
• ✓! M G Bien Estar
  mid · June 24, 2020
• ✓! Aea Food Mart
  mid · December 14, 2018
• ✓! Healthy & Delicious Snackies Corp.
  mid · June 24, 2019
• ✓ Taqueria Maria's
  clean · January 9, 2018
• ✓! La Casa Del Buffet
  mid · June 6, 2019

See every restaurant inspection in South Lawndale →

How Chicago grades restaurants

Chicago does not use letter grades. Every inspection ends in one of three official results: Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail. Pass with Conditions means violations were found but corrected on the spot or under a deadline — the restaurant is open, with homework. A Fail means serious violations went uncorrected, and it usually brings a re-inspection within days. Chicago also flags “priority” violations, the ones most likely to actually make someone sick. Cooked reads Pass as clean, Pass with Conditions as mid, and Fail as cooked, and shows the itemized violations behind each result.

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health via Chicago Data Portal. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated February 13, 2018. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.