Taqueria La Esmeralda

• official resultFail
• resultFail
• inspection typeCanvass
• failed findings8
• critical findings0

← Back to the current restaurant page

Failed findings

• 🧽surfaces not properly sanitized
  Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
  Inspector note: INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE COMPARTMENTS NOT CLEAN (INTERIOR TOP AND BIN). ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN UNIT.
  code 16
• 🪳pests in the house
  Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
  Inspector note: WE OBSERVED 6 BABY ROACHES COMING OUT FROM HANDLES OF HANDWASHING SINK IN PREP AREA,WHEN HANDLES IS TURNED ON.ONE LIVE ADULT ROACH INSIDE THE FRAME OF HANDWASHING SIGN ABOVE HANDWASHING SINK(SAME SINK).TWO LIVE ADULT ROACHES IN BASEMENT BEHIND THE REACH-IN AND CHEST FREEZER. MUST REMOVE. CLEAN AND CONTACT PEST CONTROL FOR SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION :7-38-O20(A),CITATION ISSUED
  code 38
• ⚠️Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled
  Inspector note: MUST NOT STORE CLEAN CUTTING BOARD ON THE BACK-SPLASH OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
  code 44
• ⚠️Single-Use/Single-Service Articles: Properly Stored & Used
  Inspector note: KNIVE SARE STORED BETWEEN PREP COOLER AND WALL,MUST PROVIDE KNIFE RACK
  code 45
• 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to code
  Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
  Inspector note: MUST PROVIDE PROPER SINK STOPPERS FOR THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
  code 47
• ⚠️Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips
  Inspector note: THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN DISHROOM NOT MAINTAINED: FAUCET NOT REACHING THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, ONLY MIDDLE COMPARTMENT NOT ABLE TO USE COMPARTMENT FOR WASH AND SANITIZE.FAUCET MUST REACH ALL THREE COMPARTMENT SINK FOR :WASH,RINSE AND SANITIZE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-025,CITATION ISSUED
  code 48
• 🚿plumbing acting up
  Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
  Inspector note: MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD LINER FOR COOKING EQUIPMENT OR CARDBOARD AS LINER FOR SHELVING. MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.----INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE GAS STOVE AND DEEP FRYER WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  code 49
• ⚠️Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned
  Inspector note: PROVIDE COVER AT RECEPTACLE INSIDE THE WASHROOM
  code 53

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass w/ Conditions on April 11, 2023: 7 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred. 2 previous findings did not recur.

Browse this restaurant's inspections

More restaurants in West Ridge

• ✓ Mr. Kabab
  clean · 1962 W Peterson Ave · inspected June 26, 2025
• ✓ Bacolod Chicken House
  cooked · 6320 N Lincoln Ave · inspected December 19, 2024
• ✕ Smilin' Jim's Saloon
  cooked · 6306 N Western Ave · inspected November 3, 2020
• ✓ Bina's Place
  clean · 2210 W Touhy Ave · inspected May 9, 2025
• ✓ Italian Express
  clean · 2447 W Devon Ave · inspected March 7, 2025
• ✓ Rainbow Food Mart
  clean · 2926 W Devon · inspected June 9, 2021

See every restaurant in West Ridge →

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.