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HIGH RISK

TAQUERIA EL RANCHITO

2829 N MILWAUKEE AVE, Chicago, IL 60618

This restaurant has significant health inspection issues.

Multiple critical violations were found during recent inspections. Exercise caution.

SafeScore

54/100

Inspections

4

Last Inspected

Jan 2026

Critical

0

Analysis

Violation Breakdown

33 total

contamination
1339%
facility
721%
chemical
721%
temperature
39%
other
26%
hygiene
13%

Case History

Inspection Timeline

MinorTemperature

PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION - Comments: 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

MinorOther

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE COTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER. MUST LABEL WITH THE COMMON NAME AT ALL TIMES.

Code 37

MinorHygiene

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS - Comments: 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

MinorFacility

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DIRT AND GREASE ON FLOOR DRAINS THROUGHOUT PREMISES. MUST CLEAN FLOOR DRAINS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIES.

Code 55

MinorOther

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL THE REQUIRED EMPLOYEES.

Code 57

MinorContamination

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED - Comments: 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

MinorContamination

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

MinorContamination

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

Code 47

MinorContamination

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

Code 47

MinorContamination

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

Code 47

MinorContamination

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: 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.

Code 49

MinorContamination

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD FOR LINER ON SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.

Code 49

MinorChemical

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 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.

Code 55

MinorChemical

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 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

MinorChemical

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 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.

Code 55

MinorChemical

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: 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

MinorFacility

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED ACCUMULATION OF DUST AND GRASE BUILD UP NON-VENTILATION HOOD AND FILETRS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Code 55

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Data sourced from public health inspection records. SafeScore is computed from inspection results, violation severity, trends, and consistency. All data is public record. Last updated based on jurisdiction reporting schedules.