Mariscos El Kora

• resultPass w/ Conditions
• critical violations1
• last inspectedJuly 21, 2026
• address5207-5209 S Archer Ave, Chicago 60632

Is Mariscos El Kora clean?

Mariscos El Kora is currently Pass w/ Conditions from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on July 21, 2026. Inspectors wrote up 1 critical violation — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads mid 😬.

What did inspectors find at Mariscos El Kora?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on July 21, 2026, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 🥜allergen training missing
  Allergen Training As Required • AT TIME OF INSPECTION FACILITY PROVIDED ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATES FOR THREE EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.
• 🚰handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
  Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE POSTED AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN MEN AND WOMEN'S WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO POST CLEARLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDSWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES THAT NOTIFIES FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS.
• 🧊cold food not cold enough
  Proper Cold Holding Temperatures • OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 48.0-49.1F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, SHRIMP(48.4F), SALAD CONTAINING CHOPPED LETTUCE(49.1F) AND SLICED TOMATOES(48.0F)HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $115 WEIGHING 15LBS PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
• 🧪toxic chemicals mishandled
  Compliance With Variance/Specialized Process/Haccp • OBSERVED NO VARIANCE/HACCP PLAN APPROVAL ON SITE FOR VACUUM SEALING TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS FOUND IN WALK IN FREEZER. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAGS PLACED ON TWO CONTAINERS OF VACUUM SEALED FOODS IN WALK IN FREEZER .1 CONTAINER OF OCTOPUS AND 1 CONTAINER OF SALMON, OCTOPUS AND MARLIN. INSTRUCTED SITE NOT TO USE VACUUM SEAL MACHINE OR VACUUM SEALING MATERIALS INFORMED SITE THAT TO USE SAID MACHINE, A HACCP PLAN/VARIANCE MUST BE OBTAINED BY CDPH. ONE VACUUM SEALING MACHINE AND VACUUM SEALING MATERIALS TAGGED DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED SITE NOT TO USE MACHINE NOR VACUUM SEALING MATERIAL UNTIL HACCP PLAN/VARIANCE IS SUBMITTED TO CDPH AND APPROVAL GRANTED FROM CDPDH. INSTRUCTED SITE TO CONTACT CDPH FOR TAG REMOVAL OF VACUUM SEALING MACHINE AND VACUUM SEALING MATERIALS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
• ⚠️Variance Obtained For Specialized Processing Methods • OBSERVED FACILITY NOT MEETING COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS IN FACILITY NOTED REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING ALL STORED IN WALK IN FREEZER DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY CDPH BEFORE PERFORMING SUCH SPECIALIZED FOOD PROCESSES AND MUST BE MAINTAINED.TAGGED UNIT, MATERIALS AND 75LBS OF VACUUM PACKAGED FOOD IN WALK IN FREEZER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION COMBINED WITH VIOLATION #29
  Variance Obtained For Specialized Processing Methods • OBSERVED FACILITY NOT MEETING COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS IN FACILITY NOTED REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING ALL STORED IN WALK IN FREEZER DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY CDPH BEFORE PERFORMING SUCH SPECIALIZED FOOD PROCESSES AND MUST BE MAINTAINED.TAGGED UNIT, MATERIALS AND 75LBS OF VACUUM PACKAGED FOOD IN WALK IN FREEZER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION COMBINED WITH VIOLATION #29
• 🪳pests in the house
  Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present • OBSERVED OPENINGS AT BASE OF REAR EXIT DOOR AND SOUTHSIDE FRONT OUTER ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
• ⚠️Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display • OBSERVED NO LEFT SPLASH GUARD ON HANDWASHING SINK NEXT TO TWO BURNER STOVE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LEFT SPLASH GUARD ON HANDWASHING SINK NEXT TO TWO BURNER STOVE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT OR FOOD.
  Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display • OBSERVED NO LEFT SPLASH GUARD ON HANDWASHING SINK NEXT TO TWO BURNER STOVE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LEFT SPLASH GUARD ON HANDWASHING SINK NEXT TO TWO BURNER STOVE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT OR FOOD.
• ⚠️Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled • OBSERVED SPOONS LAYING DOWN IN UNCOVERED CONTAINER UNDERNEATH COUNTER IN FRONT PREP/BEVERAGE STATION. INSTRUCTED TO STORE UTENSILS INVERTED WITH HANDLES UP OR COVERED DURING STORAGE.
  Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled • OBSERVED SPOONS LAYING DOWN IN UNCOVERED CONTAINER UNDERNEATH COUNTER IN FRONT PREP/BEVERAGE STATION. INSTRUCTED TO STORE UTENSILS INVERTED WITH HANDLES UP OR COVERED DURING STORAGE.
• 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to code
  Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used • OBSERVED RUST ON SHELVING UNITS IN DRY STORAGE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST FROM SHELVING UNITS,INSTRUCTED NONFOOD CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF A CORROSION RESISTANT, NONABSORBENT AND SMOOTH MATERIAL FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY. OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED TO LINE SHELVES IN REAR DRY STORAGE AREA AND OBSERVED PAPER TOWEL LINER FOR SHELF ON COLD HOLDING UNIT NEAR COOKLINE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CARDBOARD AND PAPER TOWEL SHELF LINERS THROUGHOUT FACILITY, INSTRUCTED NONFOOD CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF A CORROSION RESISTANT, NONABSORBENT AND SMOOTH MATERIAL FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
• 🚻bathroom / plumbing issues
  Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices • OBSERVED LEAKING DRAINPIPES UNDERNEATH WASH COMPARTMENTS OF LEFT AND MIDDLE THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPES AT SAID THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS. • UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE SO THAT IT SHALL BE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
• ⚠️Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR TO NOT BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR SO THAT IT SHALL BE TIGHT FITTING AND SELF CLOSING. • OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM FOR SANITARY NAPKINS.
  Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR TO NOT BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON ALL GENDER EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR SO THAT IT SHALL BE TIGHT FITTING AND SELF CLOSING. • OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM FOR SANITARY NAPKINS.
• ⚠️Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • OBSERVED TWO NON WORKING LIGHTS IN HOODS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR ALL NON WORKING LIGHTS IN HOODS AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DIMLY LIT WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY IN WALK IN COOLER. • OBSERVED STOVE WITH TWO BURNERS IN PREP AREA NOT INSTALLED UNDER VENTILATION SYSTEM. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL STOVES WITH BURNERS INSTALLED COMPLETELY UNDER VENTILATION SYSTEM OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
  Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • OBSERVED TWO NON WORKING LIGHTS IN HOODS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR ALL NON WORKING LIGHTS IN HOODS AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DIMLY LIT WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY IN WALK IN COOLER. • OBSERVED STOVE WITH TWO BURNERS IN PREP AREA NOT INSTALLED UNDER VENTILATION SYSTEM. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL STOVES WITH BURNERS INSTALLED COMPLETELY UNDER VENTILATION SYSTEM OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES.

When was Mariscos El Kora last inspected?

Mariscos El Kora has 15 inspections on record going back to September 19, 2016. The 12 most recent are shown below.

Mariscos El Kora vs West Elsdon

West Elsdon runs 76% clean across 399 tracked restaurants — 299 clean, 61 mid, 35 cooked.

Against the 399 spots Cooked tracks in West Elsdon, this one comes out cleaner than 14% of them.

Other spots in West Elsdon

• ✓ Vanes's Grocery
  clean · December 14, 2016
• ✓ Coppolino's
  clean · December 22, 2025
• ✓! Reilly's Daughter Irish Pub
  mid · December 7, 2022
• ✓! Reilly's Daughter Irish Pub
  mid · May 3, 2017
• ✓ Tabo Sushi
  clean · April 4, 2019
• ✓ Tabo Sushi
  clean · May 3, 2017

See every restaurant inspection in West Elsdon →

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 July 21, 2026. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.