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El Nopal

September 25, 2026 · Fail
cooked
  • official resultFail
  • resultFail
  • inspection typeComplaint
  • failed findings11
  • critical findings1

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Failed findings

  • handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
    Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS OR SANITARY HAND DRYING DEVICES AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN WASHROOM, PREP, AND DISH WASHING AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE SANITARY HAND DRYING DEVICES AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGN AT HANDWASHING SINK IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY EMPLOYEES.
    code 10Priority
  • thermometers missing
    Official wording: Thermometers Provided & Accurate
    Inspector note: OBSERVED MISSING THERMOMETERS INSIDE COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE THERMOMETERS IN ALL COOLERS.
    code 36
  • food improperly labeled
    Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
    Inspector note: OBSERVED PACKAGED FOOD ITEMS DISPLAYED FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NOT PROPERLY LABELED WITH NAME, BUSINESS NAME, ADDRESS, INGREDIENTS, ETC. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL PACKAGED ITEMS DISPLAYED FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
    code 37
  • pests in the house
    Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
    Inspector note: OBSERVED 1/4" GAP AT BOTTOM OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR AND NO SCREEN ON OPEN REAR DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR FRONT DOOR AND PROVIDE SCREEN FOR REAR DOOR TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY. • OBSERVED OVER 50 RAT DROPPINGS ON FLOOR BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALK-IN COOLER AND UNDER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. OBSERVED NUMEROUS FLYING INSECTS IN SERVING, PREP, STORAGE AND DISH WASHING AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED
    code 38
  • Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NUMEROUS OPEN PASTRIES DISPLAYED FOR SALE ON FRONT COUNTER, UNCOVERED AND NOT PROTECTED FROM DUST, DIRT, FLIES AND CONSUMERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY PROTECT ALL FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION. FOOD ON DISPLAY SHALL BE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION BY THE USE OF PACKAGING, DISPLAY CASES OR OTHER EFFECTIVE MEANS. PRIORITY 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
    code 39
  • Single-Use/Single-Service Articles: Properly Stored & Used
    Inspector note: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES STORED ON FLOOR IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
    code 45
  • surfaces / setup not up to code
    Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO STOPPERS FOR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STOPPERS AND MAINTAIN.
    code 47
  • Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips
    Inspector note: OBSERVED FAUCET NOT REACHING ALL THREE COMPARTMENTS OF 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE LONGER FAUCET TO REACH ALL COMPARTMENTS TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE FOOD EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025 CITATION ISSUED
    code 48
  • plumbing acting up
    Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
    Inspector note: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE AND DUST BUILDUP ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, SHELVING UNITS, PREP TABLES, COOLERS, FREEZERS, BULK CONTAINERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES AND EQUIPMENT.
    code 49
  • floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
    Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
    Inspector note: OBSERVED MISSING WALL TILES, BASEBOARDS AND STAINED CEILING TILES AND LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP AND SERVING AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED FOOD SPILLS ON WALLS AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED SOILED WATER IN MOP PAIL AND MOP HEAD STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DISCARD ALL SOILED WATER AND STORE MOP HEAD UPRIGHT TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.
    code 55
  • All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training
    Inspector note: OBSERVED MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOOD AND/OR EQUIPMENT MUST PROVIDE VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    code 57

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass w/ Conditions on August 16, 2024: 8 findings appeared for the first time. 3 findings recurred. 4 previous findings did not recur.

Browse this restaurant's inspections

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.

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