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Mezquite Pollo Express

October 6, 2025 · Fail

🪳cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings9
critical findings1

Failed findings

handwashing sink blocked or barecritical

Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
Inspector note: OBSERVED TWO HANDWASHING SINK NOT ACCESSIBLE NOR MAINTAINED. MISSING PIPE UNDER HAND SINK NEXT TO DISHWASHER AND MISSING PIPE IN EMPLOYEE UNISEX TOILET ROOM HAND SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030 (C) • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING CLEANSER AT HAND SINK NEXT TO 2-COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE HAND SOAP AT ALL HAND SINKS AT ALL TIMES. SEE VIOLATION ABOVE FOR CITATION. 7-38-030 (C)
code 10Priority
food left unprotected

Official wording: Food Separated And Protected
Inspector note: OBSERVED RAW FOODS STORED ABOVE READY TO EAT FODOS IN MULTIPLE COOLERS. RAW CONTAINERS OF STEAK STORED DIRECTLY ON TOP OF READY TO EAT CONTAINERS OF SALSA IN COOLER. OBSERVED RAW EGGS STORED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE CONTAINERS OF READY TO EAT TOMATOES AND LETTUCE IN ADDITIONAL COOLER. OBSERVED CONTAINER OF RAW STEAK STORED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SLICED ONIONS IN REAR UPRIGHT COOLER. INSTD TO STORE RAW FOODS PROPERLY AT ALL TIMES. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY
code 15
consumer advisory missing

Official wording: Consumer Advisory Provided For Raw/Undercooked Food
Inspector note: MISSING DISCLOSURE FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY ON MENU FOR UNDERCOOKED FOOD (EX. STEAK) . INSTRUCTED TO IDENTIFY SUCH FOODS BY ASTERISKING THEM TO A FOOT NOTE THAT STATES: "THESE ITEMS ARE COOKED TO ORDER" IN ADDITION TO CONSUMER ADVISORY ON MENU. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
code 25
food improperly labeled

Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
Inspector note: OBSERVED PRE PACKAGED COOKIES AND PECAN BARS MADE ON SITE WITHOUT LABEL OF BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
code 37
In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored

Inspector note: OBSERVED KNIVES IMPROPERLY STORED IN BETWEEN WIRE AND WALL IN FOOD PREP AREA NEAR GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER STORAGE FOR UTENSILS AND MAINTAIN.
code 43
Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled

Inspector note: OBSERVED COOKING UTENSILS NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO AVOID CONTAMINATION BY INVERTING UTENSILS WITH HANDLES EXPOSED AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.
code 44
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: OBSERVED FROZEN RAW CHICKEN STORED IN PLASTIC LINER IN BULK FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO USE FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS FOR STORING. OBSERVED CRATES IN TWO DOOR REFRIGERATOR USED TO STORE PRODUCE. INSTRUCTED TO USE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN.
code 47
Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned

Inspector note: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE UNISEX TOILET ROOM WITH NO COVERED RECEPTACLE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
code 53
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE LIGHTING INTENSITY TO ENSURE VISIBILITY. MUST MAINTAIN.
code 56

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on October 3, 2024: 8 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred. 1 previous finding did not recur.

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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.