Lalo's Mexican Restaurant

August 5, 2025 · Fail
🪳cooked
  • official resultFail
  • resultFail
  • inspection typeCanvass
  • failed findings10
  • 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 AVAILABLE AT THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK BEHIND THE BAR. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PAPER TOWELS AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). SEE VIOLATION #10 ABOVE FOR CITATION. • OBSERVED THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK BEHIND THE BAR NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR USE. THERE WAS A CONTAINER OF UTENSILS STORED INSIDE OF THE SINK BASIN. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINKS MUST BE USED FOR HAND WASHING ONLY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 10Priority
  • surfaces not properly sanitized
    Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO SANITIZER DETECTED AT THE FINAL RINSE OF THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISH WASHING MACHINE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR THE MACHINE AND PROVIDE A FINAL RINSE OF 100 PPM CHLORINE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025.
    code 16
  • cold food not cold enough
    Official wording: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
    Inspector note: OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS STORED ALONG THE TOP RAIL OF THE PREP COOLER. OBSERVED CHEESE AT 55F, SOUR CREAM AT 49F, PICO DE GALLO AT 46F, CUT TOMATOES AT 47F, GUACAMOLE AT 48F, AND CUT LEAFY GREENS AT 51F. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL COLD FOODS BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 22
  • consumer advisory missing
    Official wording: Consumer Advisory Provided For Raw/Undercooked Food
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE DINNER MENU AND NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER STATEMENT ON THE LUNCH MENU. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE AND DESCRIBE ALL FOODS WHICH 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.
    code 25
  • pests in the house
    Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
    Inspector note: OBSERVED DEAD COCKROACHES ON THE FLOOR BEHIND THE ICE MACHINE AND ON THE WALL OF THE DISH WASHING AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL DEAD INSECTS FROM THE AFFECTED AREAS. • OBSERVED LIVE INSECT ACTIVITY IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS. OBSERVED 1 LIVE COCKROACH UNDERNEATH THE CONVECTION OVEN IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. ALSO OBSERVED 2 LIVE HOUSE FLIES AND 5 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE WALLS AND FLYING AROUND THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 38
  • surfaces / setup not up to code
    Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
    Inspector note: REPLACE THE TORN DOOR GASKETS ON BOTH DOORS OF THE 2-DOOR PREP COOLER.
    code 47
  • plumbing acting up
    Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
    Inspector note: CLEAN THE GREASE ON THE WIRE STORAGE SHELF IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA, HOT HOLDING UNIT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA, AND THE INTERIOR OF THE DEEP FRYERS AND OVENS.
    code 49
  • floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
    Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
    Inspector note: CLEAN THE GREASE ON THE WALLS AND FLOOR OF THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA.
    code 55
  • All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training
    Inspector note: OBSERVED ALMOST ALL OF THE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITH AN EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE A VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE.
    code 57
  • Summary Report Displayed And Visible To The Public
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY POSTED ON THE PREMISES IN PUBLIC VIEW. MANAGEMENT WAS GIVEN A COPY OF TODAY'S INSPECTION REPORT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO POST IT IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 61

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on June 28, 2024: 9 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred.

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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