Lito's Tamales

July 27, 2026 · Fail
🪳cooked
  • official resultFail
  • resultFail
  • inspection typeCanvass
  • failed findings13
  • critical findings5

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Failed findings

  • no certified food manager on dutycritical
    Official wording: Person In Charge Present, Demonstrates Knowledge, And Performs Duties
    Inspector note: OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT PROOF OF FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT TRAINING DURING THE TIME OF INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE.
    code 1Priority
  • handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
    Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
    Inspector note: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN PREP AREA AND EMPLOYEE RESTROOM NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HAND SINK IN PREP AREA AND EMPLOYEE RESTROOMS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED HAND SOAP FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 10Priority
  • certified manager paperwork missingcritical
    Official wording: City Of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate
    Inspector note: NOTED FACILITY DID NOT PROVIDE A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING ON SITE. INFORMED THAT A CERTIFIED MANAGER WITH A CURRENT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES, AND A VALID CERTIFICATE MUST REMAIN POSTED ON SITE WHENEVER TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY(TCS) FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED, HANDLED, AND/OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 2Priority
  • sick-employee policy not followedcritical
    Official wording: Management, Food Employee And Conditional Employee; Knowledge, Responsibilities And Reporting
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AND MAINTAIN VERIFIABLE SIGNED COPIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REPORTING AGREEMENT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 3Priority
  • staff working while sickcritical
    Official wording: Procedures For Responding To Vomiting And Diarrheal Events
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURES OR SUPPLIES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. SUPPLIES MUST INCLUDE ADEQUATE SANITIZER THAT ELIMINATES NOROVIRUS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE A CLEANUP POLICY AND SUPPLIES TO PROPERLY HANDLE BODILY FLUID SPILLS ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 5Priority
  • food improperly labeled
    Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
    Inspector note: OBSERVED FOOD STORED IN CONTAINERS IN ALL THE COOLERS, WALK-IN COOLER, AND DRY STORAGE WITHOUT PROPER LABELING OF NAME. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A LABEL REFLECTING THE FOOD ITEM'S NAME WHEN FOOD HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
    code 37
  • pests in the house
    Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO CURRENT PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK ON THE PREMISES. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT A LICENSED PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND OPERATOR MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST 2 PEST INSPECTIONS A YEAR AND THE REPORTS MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE LOG BOOK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CURRENT PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK AND PEST INSPECTION REPORTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 38
  • 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.
    code 47
  • Hot & Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER ON PREMISES. HOT WATER WAS NOT OBSERVED AT THE FOLLOWING SINKS: PREP HANDSINK, WASHBOWL SINK, AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE OF HOT WATER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE PEAK HOT WATER DEMANDS THROUGH THE RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. MUST CORRECT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 50
  • Garbage & Refuse Properly Disposed; Facilities Maintained
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER CONTRACT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CONTRACT WITH A LICENSED WASTE MANAGEMENT OPERATOR. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(B). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 54
  • floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
    Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
    Inspector note: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING, STORAGE, AND BASEMENT AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS. OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON FAN IN WALK-IN COOLER, LIGHT SHIELDS IN COOKING AREA AND CEILING AND WALL VENTS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FANS, LIGHT SHIELDS AND CEILING/WALL VENTS.
    code 55
  • All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
    code 57
  • allergen training missing
    Official wording: Allergen Training As Required
    Inspector note: OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
    code 58

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on November 6, 2025: 13 findings appeared for the first time.

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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