Food Safety Report: El Paisano Tacos, 2429 W Division St, Chicago, Il, USA.

Chicago, 60622 Illinois, United States

Report date: Dec 3, 2025
6. Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
- comments: observed male employee drinking from an open cup instructed to provide lid or usage of a straw. (cos)

10. Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
- comments: observed front prep area hand washing sink not accessible observed a large plastic bucket stored inside of said hand sink. Manager removed bucket during inspection. Must keep hand washing sink accessible at all times. (priority foundation 7-38-030(c)(cos)(citation issued)

10. Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
- comments: observed no hand washing signs at hand sinks in both prep areas. Must provide and maintain.

22. Proper cold holding temperatures
- comments: observed improper temperatures of tcs cooked foods dated 12/2/25 inside of 1- door rear reach in cooler such as 15lbs. -cooked beans ranging from 46. 7f-46. 9f. Product was discarded by manager. Must have cold holding foods at 41. 0f or below. Appx. 15lbs. $35. (priority 7-38-005)(cos)(citation issued)

25. Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
- comments: observed no consumer advisory disclosure & reminder on board menu nor a reminder on carry-out menus on consuming raw or undercooked foods instructed to provide and maintain. (priority foundation 7-38-005)

33. Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
- comments: observed improper temperature of 1- door reach in cooler at 50. 0f with tcs foods stored inside. A held for inspection tag has been placed on unit. Must have cold holding units at 41. 0f or below. Once repaired email:food@cityofchicago. Org(priority 7-38-005)cos)(citation issued)

36. Thermometers provided & accurate
- comments: observed 3- probe thermometers not verifying the scaling of the temperature measuring devices in the range of use to measure food temperatures while taking food temperatures at this time. Instructed to provide working thermometers. (priority foundation 7-38-005)(citation issued)

37. Food properly labeled; original container
- comments: must label repackaged desserts on display for sale with proper information given and maintain.

37. Food properly labeled; original container
- comments: must label food storage containers when food is not in original packages such as (shakers,bulk containers,squeeze bottles,etc)

38. Insects, rodents, & animals not present
- comments: observed evidence of appx. 100 or more rat droppings inside of a black plastic bin of potatoes and on floor of same in dining area,on lower shelf at service counter,under unused grill table and lower shelf in rear prep area,on interior ledges of 1 & 2 door reach in coolers,on floor under shelving units in rear food storage area. Also evidence of 3- live roaches crawling on floor in rear prep area and behind 3- door reach in cooler and several dead roaches in toilet room in vanity,in rear storage area and on floor under coolers in rear prep area. Must remove droppings and dead roaches clean and sanitize areas. Recommended to have a pest control operator to service premises on or after 12/3/25. (priority foundation 7-38-020(a)(citation issued)

38. Insects, rodents, & animals not present
- comments: observed a gap along bottom of double doors behind a wall of coolers in dining area and along side of front door must make doors tight fitting to prevent insect entry.

40. Personal cleanliness
- comments: observed personal belongings on rear food & paper storage shelves must remove and store properly.

41. Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
- comments: observed several heavily soiled wiping cloths stored on surfaces throughout prep areas and counters must replace soiled towels and store them in a sanitizing solution when not in use.

43. In-use utensils: properly stored
- comments: observed ice scoop ,bowls and scoops stored on top rack in rear storage area and inside of bulk food storage containers must remove and store in a proper manner.

44. Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
- comments: must invert multi-use utensils on dish storage shelves.

45. Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
- comments: must store plastic wear with handles in upright position to prevent contamination.

47. Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
- comments: must provide sink stoppers for 3- compartment sink. Must repair or replace damaged door gaskets on 2-door reach in cooler and 1- door glass reach in cooler.

47. Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
- comments: observed plastic grocery bags being used for food storage in freezers and at front prep area must use food grade bags for food storage.

47. Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
- comments: observed cardboard being used inside of 1- door reach in cooler and on unused grill table in rear prep area must remove and maintain a clean surface.

47. Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
- comments: observed soiled,worn and pitted cutting boards on topside of front prep cooler and on rear prep tables must repair or replace to be in good repair.

48. Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
- comments: observed pots and storage bins to large to submerged into 3- compartment sink must remove pots & bins,provide a larger sink or provide a written procedure on how to properly sanitize multi-use utensils.

49. Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
- comments: must clean excessive grease and food debris build up from fryer cabinets, grill tables, prep tables, reach in & prep coolers,wheel bases,undersides of overhead shelving unit above front prep cooler,service counter shelving units,interior panel of ice machine.

51. Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
- comments: observed no backflow device to be seen for servicing on ice machine and provide backflow devices on threaded faucets at mopsink.

53. Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
- comments: must adjust self closing device on toilet room door to close tightly.

55. Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
- comments: must remove excessive clutter from prep tables and store properly.

55. Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
- comments: must clean excessive food debris and dirt from floor under,around and along wall bases.

55. Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
- comments: must clean excessive grease,food debris build up and dirt from all walls throughout premises.

57. All food employees have food handler training
- comments: observed expired food handlers training for employees must provide and maintain.

60. Previous core violation corrected
- comments: previous core violation from report #2611571 2/3/25 not corrected-#58-2-102. 13 : observed certified food managers with no food allergen training. Instructed manager to comply with requirements. (priority foundation 7-42-090)(citation issued)

Source: chicago.gov