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Taqueria El Ranchito

January 6, 2026 · Pass w/ Conditions

😬mid

official resultPass w/ Conditions
resultPass w/ Conditions
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings9
critical findings0

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Failed findings

food not cooled down right

Official wording: Proper Date Marking And Disposition
Inspector note: OBSERVED READY TO EAT, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (BEANS, RICE, CHICKEN SOUP, BEEF). NOT PROPERLY DATED, STORED LONGER THAN 24 HOURS INSIDE WALK-INCOOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER DATE MARKING WITH DISPOSITION DATE FOR RTE FOODS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD OVER 24HOURS IN COLD HOLDING UNITS. REVIEWED PROPER DATE LABELING OF PREPARED TCS FOODS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
code 23
food improperly labeled

Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
Inspector note: MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE COTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER. MUST LABEL WITH THE COMMON NAME AT ALL TIMES.
code 37
Personal Cleanliness

Inspector note: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES PREPARING AND SERVING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.
code 40
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: OBSERVED DAMAGED DOOR GASKET AT THE 2-DOOR TALL REFRIGERATOR LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. • OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS IN REAR PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEEMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. • OBSERVED FROZEN FOOD ITEMS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS INSIDE CHEST FREEZERS IN MAIN KITCHEND FOOD PREP AREA AND BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE USE PROPER FOOD GRADE BAGS OR CONTAINERS ONLY. • OBSERVED TIN FOIL ON BOTTOM OF PREP TABLES IN KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE ALL SURFACES TO BE NON-CORROSIVE, SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES. OBSERVED RUSTY BOTTOM OF FOOD PREP TABLES IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAINT/REFINISH TO REMOVE DUST AND PROVIDE A NON-CORROSIVE SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.
code 47
plumbing acting up

Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE AND DIRT BUILD UP INSIDE ALL CHEST FREEZERS LOCATED IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVED EXCESS ICE BUILD UP AND DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED GREASE AND DIRT BUILD UP ON THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL THE COOKING EQUIPMENT, PREP TABLES, REFRIGERATION UNITS, FOOD STORAGE SHELVING IN MAIN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. • MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD FOR LINER ON SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
code 49
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED MOPS STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST PLACE MOPS IN POSITION THAT CAN ALLOW THEM AIR DRY WITHOUT SOILING WALLS AND FLOORS. • OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DIRT AND GREASE ON FLOOR DRAINS THROUGHOUT PREMISES. MUST CLEAN FLOOR DRAINS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIES. • OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP ON FLOOR AND SURFACES THROUGHOUT PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ABOVE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNDERNEATH AROUND AND BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT, UNDER FOOD STORAGE SHELVING, PREP TABLES, DISHWASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES AND MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. OBSERVED EXCESSIVE DUST AND DIRT BUILD UP ON WALLS BEHING COOKING EQUIPMENT, BEHIND COOLERS AND FREEZERS AND PREP TABLES IN MAIN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. • OBSERVED ACCUMULATION OF DUST AND GRASE BUILD UP NON-VENTILATION HOOD AND FILETRS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED A FEW WATERS DAMAGED CEILING TILES ABOVE CHEST FREEZER IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA/FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE. OBSERVED BROKEN, CRACKED, MISSING, DAMAGED FLOOR AND WALLS TILES BEHING PREP TABLES AND BEHING REFRIGERATION UNITS IN MAIN KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAIR REPLACE ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND MAINTAIN. MUST REMOVE ALL UNEVEN SPRAY FOAM SEALANT ALONG BASEBOARD COVING THROUGHOUT REAR DISHWASHING AREA. OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON WALL IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA AND BASEMENT. MUST REPAINT AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED BIG OPENINGS INTO CEILING AND AROUND PIPES ON BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST SEAL ALL OPENINGS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
code 55
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED A FEW LIGHT BULBS OFF IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR/ REPLACE AND PROVIDE INTENSITY LIGHTING AT ALL TIMES.
code 56
All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training

Inspector note: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL THE REQUIRED EMPLOYEES.
code 57
allergen training missing

Official wording: Allergen Training As Required
Inspector note: OBSERVED THREE CERTFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ABOVE THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN AND PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
code 58

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on February 20, 2025: 9 findings appeared for the first time. 2 previous findings 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.