Did Cafe El Tapatio pass its last health inspection?

Cafe El Tapatio at 3400-3402 N Ashland Ave was inspected on Jul 24, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass". Across 16 inspections on record it has failed 2 times.

What violations were cited at Cafe El Tapatio?

The most recent inspection cited 8 violations, beginning with: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: 4-602.11(B-E): **C** Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils-Frequency OBSERVED THE ICE BIN INTERIOR IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

What does "Risk 1 (High)" mean?

Chicago assigns every food establishment a risk category based on how much food handling it does. Risk 1 (High) covers full-service restaurants and is inspected most often; Risk 2 (Medium) and Risk 3 (Low) — such as places serving only pre-packaged food — are inspected less frequently.

Where does this inspection data come from?

The City of Chicago publishes every food-establishment inspection it performs, including the result and the full text of any violations cited. This page reads that dataset directly and updates as the city posts new inspections.

Restaurant inspections / Restaurant

Cafe El Tapatio

3400-3402 N Ashland Ave, Chicago 60657 · Risk 1 (High)

Pass

Most recent result

Jul 24, 2026

Inspections on record

Times passed

Times failed

Violations cited on Jul 24, 2026

#16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: 4-602.11(B-E): **C** Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils-Frequency OBSERVED THE ICE BIN INTERIOR IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
#37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: 3-601.11: **C** Standards of Identity NOTED NO LABELS FOR BULK STORAGE CONTAINERS (FLOUR AND SUGAR). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH CONTENTS NAME.
#39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY - Comments: 3-307.11: **C** Miscellaneous Sources of Contamination OBSERVED DRY RICE AND DRIED BEAN BAGS SITTING ON FLOOR IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
#47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 4-101.19: **C** Nonfood-Contact Surfaces OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
#47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 4-101.19: **C** Nonfood-Contact Surfaces OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL USED AS LINER ON FOOD PREP EQUIPMENT AND PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
#49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: 4-602.13: NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN.
#51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: 5-205.15: **C** System Maintained in Good Repair (In Good Repair) OBSERVED HANDSINK IN BASEMENT PREP AREA LEAKING INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MIANTAIN.
#55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 6-201.16: **C** Wall and Ceiling Coverings and Coatings OBSERVED A HOLE IN THE BASMENT CEILING PREP AREA INSTRUCTED TO SEAL.

Inspection history

Date	Type	Result	Risk
Jul 24, 2026	Canvass Re-Inspection	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
May 14, 2025	Complaint	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Jun 20, 2024	Short Form Complaint	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Jun 11, 2024	Canvass Re-Inspection	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Apr 3, 2024	Canvass	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Jan 5, 2023	Complaint	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Aug 31, 2022	Canvass	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Sep 9, 2021	Complaint Re-Inspection	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Aug 18, 2021	Complaint	Fail	Risk 1 (High)
Jul 31, 2019	Canvass Re-Inspection	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Jul 22, 2019	Canvass	Fail	Risk 1 (High)
Oct 30, 2018	Short Form Complaint	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Jul 3, 2018	Canvass Re-Inspection	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Jun 28, 2018	Canvass	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Mar 9, 2017	Canvass	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Apr 14, 2016	License	Pass	Risk 1 (High)

Source

Food Inspectionsupdated weeklyofficial portal ↗

Inspection records are published by the Chicago Department of Public Health. A failed inspection does not necessarily mean an establishment closed — most are re-inspected after correcting violations.

Other inspected places in 60657

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Cafe El Tapatio — questions

Did Cafe El Tapatio pass its last health inspection?: Cafe El Tapatio at 3400-3402 N Ashland Ave was inspected on Jul 24, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass". Across 16 inspections on record it has failed 2 times.
What violations were cited at Cafe El Tapatio?: The most recent inspection cited 8 violations, beginning with: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: 4-602.11(B-E): **C** Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils-Frequency OBSERVED THE ICE BIN INTERIOR IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
What does "Risk 1 (High)" mean?: Chicago assigns every food establishment a risk category based on how much food handling it does. Risk 1 (High) covers full-service restaurants and is inspected most often; Risk 2 (Medium) and Risk 3 (Low) — such as places serving only pre-packaged food — are inspected less frequently.
Where does this inspection data come from?: The City of Chicago publishes every food-establishment inspection it performs, including the result and the full text of any violations cited. This page reads that dataset directly and updates as the city posts new inspections.

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