Restaurant inspections / Restaurant

Lito'S Tamales

4242 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago 60639 · Risk 1 (High)

Fail

Most recent result

Jul 27, 2026

7

Inspections on record

2

Times passed

3

Times failed

Violations cited on Jul 27, 2026

  1. #1PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT PROOF OF FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT TRAINING DURING THE TIME OF INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE.
  2. #2CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: NOTED FACILITY DID NOT PROVIDE A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING ON SITE. INFORMED THAT A CERTIFIED MANAGER WITH A CURRENT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES, AND A VALID CERTIFICATE MUST REMAIN POSTED ON SITE WHENEVER TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY(TCS) FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED, HANDLED, AND/OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
  3. #3MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING - Comments: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AND MAINTAIN VERIFIABLE SIGNED COPIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REPORTING AGREEMENT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
  4. #5PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS - Comments: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURES OR SUPPLIES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. SUPPLIES MUST INCLUDE ADEQUATE SANITIZER THAT ELIMINATES NOROVIRUS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE A CLEANUP POLICY AND SUPPLIES TO PROPERLY HANDLE BODILY FLUID SPILLS ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  5. #10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN PREP AREA AND EMPLOYEE RESTROOM NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HAND SINK IN PREP AREA AND EMPLOYEE RESTROOMS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED HAND SOAP FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
  6. #37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD STORED IN CONTAINERS IN ALL THE COOLERS, WALK-IN COOLER, AND DRY STORAGE WITHOUT PROPER LABELING OF NAME. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A LABEL REFLECTING THE FOOD ITEM'S NAME WHEN FOOD HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
  7. #38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED NO CURRENT PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK ON THE PREMISES. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT A LICENSED PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND OPERATOR MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST 2 PEST INSPECTIONS A YEAR AND THE REPORTS MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE LOG BOOK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CURRENT PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK AND PEST INSPECTION REPORTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(C). CITATION ISSUED.
  8. #47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 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.
  9. #50HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE - Comments: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER ON PREMISES. HOT WATER WAS NOT OBSERVED AT THE FOLLOWING SINKS: PREP HANDSINK, WASHBOWL SINK, AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE OF HOT WATER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE PEAK HOT WATER DEMANDS THROUGH THE RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. MUST CORRECT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
  10. #54GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED - Comments: OBSERVED NO COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER CONTRACT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CONTRACT WITH A LICENSED WASTE MANAGEMENT OPERATOR. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(B). CITATION ISSUED.
  11. #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING, STORAGE, AND BASEMENT AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS. OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON FAN IN WALK-IN COOLER, LIGHT SHIELDS IN COOKING AREA AND CEILING AND WALL VENTS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FANS, LIGHT SHIELDS AND CEILING/WALL VENTS.
  12. #57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
  13. #58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED - Comments: OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.

Inspection history

DateTypeResultRisk
Jul 27, 2026CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Nov 6, 2025Canvass Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 23, 2025CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
May 14, 2024CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Nov 6, 2023License Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 30, 2023LicenseFailRisk 1 (High)
Oct 19, 2023LicenseNo EntryRisk 1 (High)

Source

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 60639

Lito'S Tamales — questions

Did Lito'S Tamales pass its last health inspection?
Lito'S Tamales at 4242 W Fullerton Ave was inspected on Jul 27, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Fail". Across 7 inspections on record it has failed 3 times.
What violations were cited at Lito'S Tamales?
The most recent inspection cited 13 violations, beginning with: PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT PROOF OF FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT TRAINING DURING THE TIME OF INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE.
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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