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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

El Taco Encebollado

4359 W 47th St

Last inspected Jun 11, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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ImprovingThe latest inspection recorded fewer violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

4 inspections

Canvass Re-Inspection

Jun 11, 2026

Pass

5 recorded violations

notedCode 37Food source and labeling

Official wording

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Inspector’s notes

3-602.11(A; B:1-4,6,7; C; D): UNLABELED CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE PREPACKAGED FOODS(EMPANADAS) IN DISPLAY AREA IN DINING ROOM.INSTRUCTED MUST LABEL ITEMS WITH FOOD NAME, INGREDIENTS AND SOURCE.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

6-202.15: OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE OF FRONT ENTRANCE OUTER DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

4-101.19: OBSERVED CONTAINERS AND BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR DRY STORAGRE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

6-501.19: OBSERVED DOORS OF BOTH ALL GENDER WASHROOMS TO NOT BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON BOTH(CUSTOMER AND EMPLOYEE)ALL GENDER WASHROOM DOORS SO THAT THEY SHALL BE TIGHT FITTING AND SELF CLOSING.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-501.16: OBSERVED MOP DRYING AGAINST WALL. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MOP DRYING RACK FOR PROPER DRAINAGE AND DRYING OF MOPS TO PREVENT PEST BREEDING.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jun 11, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Jun 8, 2026

Pass w/ Conditions

7 recorded violations

notedCode 22Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 46.0-58.3F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HAM(46.2F), BEANS(47.5F), GOAT(48.4-50.4F), PORK(46.0-48.9F), CHICKEN(46.9-48.9F), BEEF(46.6-48.7F), SHRIMP(49.1F), SALSA CONTAINING TOMATOES(47.3-58.3F), SOUR CREAM(47.8F) AND BEEF AU JUS(47.8F)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 $1500 WEIGHING 120LBS PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 33Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED WALK IN COOLER AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 49.8F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON WALK IN COOLER. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 37Food source and labeling

Official wording

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Inspector’s notes

UNLABELED CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE PREPACKAGED FOODS(EMPANADAS) IN DISPLAY AREA IN DINING ROOM.INSTRUCTED MUST LABEL ITEMS WITH FOOD NAME, INGREDIENTS AND SOURCE.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE OF FRONT ENTRANCE OUTER DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED CONTAINERS AND BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR DRY STORAGRE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DOORS OF BOTH ALL GENDER WASHROOMS TO NOT BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON BOTH(CUSTOMER AND EMPLOYEE)ALL GENDER WASHROOM DOORS SO THAT THEY SHALL BE TIGHT FITTING AND SELF CLOSING.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED HOLE AT LOWER WALL TO THE RIGHT OF TOILET IN EMPLOYEE ALL GENDER WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jun 8, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Jul 9, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

3 recorded violations

notedCode 32Other

Official wording

VARIANCE OBTAINED FOR SPECIALIZED PROCESSING METHODS

Inspector’s notes

see 29

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 39Contamination

Official wording

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

Inspector’s notes

FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS ON WALK IN COOLER FLOOR. INSTD TO ELEVATE 6 INCHES ON PROPER SHELVING AND MAINTAIN

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
notedCode 29Other

Official wording

COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS/HACCP

Inspector’s notes

UNAPPROVED REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING MACHINE ON SITE. MACHINE NOT IN USE, PIC STATES RECENTLY PURCHASED AND NOT BEING USED. MACHINE TAGGED AT THIS TIME AND INSTD NOT TO USE UNTIL PRIOR APPROVAL OBTAINED FROM CDPH OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 9, 2025 · Original Source

License

Aug 8, 2024

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED ICE MACHINE ON SITE WITH WATER LINE CONNECTED TO THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW DEVICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Aug 8, 2024 · Original Source

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