Restaurant inspections / Restaurant
El Taco Express
8548 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago 60617 · Risk 1 (High)
Pass
Most recent result
Mar 3, 2026
7
Inspections on record
3
Times passed
2
Times failed
Violations cited on Mar 3, 2026
- #16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: 4-602.11 OBSERVED A GREEN SUBSTANCE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED BY THE ICE MAKER AND ON THE SIDES OF THE INTERIOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
- #35APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED - Comments: 3-501.13 OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING OF TCS FOODS. OBSERVED RAW BEEF THAWING AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IN A CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS THAW FROZEN PRODUCTS PROPERLY UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER (NOT EXCEEDING 70F) OR IN A REFRIGERATOR AT ALL TIMES.
- #37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: 3-302.12 OBSERVED DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT LABEL WITH PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS.
- #43IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: 3-304.12 OBSERVED SCOOPS BEING STORED IN DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS AND PLATES USED TO SCOOP FOOD BEING STORED IN PRODUCT'S CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND STORE ALL UTENSILS PROPERLY.
- #49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: 4-601.11 OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS WITH ACCUMULATED FOOD AND GREASE DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
- #51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
- #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 6-201.13 OBSERVED COVING DETACHED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
- #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 6-501.114 OBSERVED A BAG OF ONIONS BEING STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE EVERYTHING AT LEAST 6 INCHES AND DO NOT STORE FOOD ITEMS ON THE FLOOR.
Inspection history
| Date | Type | Result | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 2026 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jan 28, 2025 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jan 30, 2024 | Canvass Re-Inspection | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jan 23, 2024 | Canvass | Fail | Risk 1 (High) |
| May 9, 2023 | License Re-Inspection | Pass w/ Conditions | Risk 1 (High) |
| Apr 11, 2023 | License | Fail | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jan 18, 2023 | License | Not Ready | 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 60617
El Taco Express — questions
- Did El Taco Express pass its last health inspection?
- El Taco Express at 8548 S Stony Island Ave was inspected on Mar 3, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass". Across 7 inspections on record it has failed 2 times.
- What violations were cited at El Taco Express?
- The most recent inspection cited 8 violations, beginning with: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: 4-602.11 OBSERVED A GREEN SUBSTANCE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED BY THE ICE MAKER AND ON THE SIDES OF THE INTERIOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
- 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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