El Taco Express

March 3, 2026 · Pass
😇clean
  • official resultPass
  • resultPass
  • inspection typeCanvass
  • failed findings7
  • critical findings0

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Failed findings

  • surfaces not properly sanitized
    Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
    Inspector note: 4-602.11 OBSERVED A GREEN SUBSTANCE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED BY THE ICE MAKER AND ON THE SIDES OF THE INTERIOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    code 16
  • Approved Thawing Methods Used
    Inspector note: 3-501.13 OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING OF TCS FOODS. OBSERVED RAW BEEF THAWING AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IN A CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS THAW FROZEN PRODUCTS PROPERLY UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER (NOT EXCEEDING 70F) OR IN A REFRIGERATOR AT ALL TIMES.
    code 35
  • food improperly labeled
    Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
    Inspector note: 3-302.12 OBSERVED DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT LABEL WITH PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS.
    code 37
  • In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored
    Inspector note: 3-304.12 OBSERVED SCOOPS BEING STORED IN DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS AND PLATES USED TO SCOOP FOOD BEING STORED IN PRODUCT'S CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND STORE ALL UTENSILS PROPERLY.
    code 43
  • plumbing acting up
    Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
    Inspector note: 4-601.11 OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS WITH ACCUMULATED FOOD AND GREASE DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
    code 49
  • bathroom / plumbing issues
    Official wording: Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
    Inspector note: 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
    code 51
  • floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
    Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
    Inspector note: 6-201.13 OBSERVED COVING DETACHED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. • 6-501.114 OBSERVED A BAG OF ONIONS BEING STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE EVERYTHING AT LEAST 6 INCHES AND DO NOT STORE FOOD ITEMS ON THE FLOOR.
    code 55

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on January 28, 2025: 6 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred. 5 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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