chicago.fyi
Sign inSign up

Restaurant inspections / Restaurant

Mezquite Pollo Express

2809 W 55th St, Chicago 60632 · Risk 1 (High)

Pass

Most recent result

Oct 16, 2025

16

Inspections on record

5

Times passed

2

Times failed

Violations cited on Oct 16, 2025

  1. #37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: OBSERVED PRE PACKAGED COOKIES AND PECAN BARS MADE ON SITE WITHOUT LABEL OF BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
  2. #43IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: OBSERVED KNIVES IMPROPERLY STORED IN BETWEEN WIRE AND WALL IN FOOD PREP AREA NEAR GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER STORAGE FOR UTENSILS AND MAINTAIN.
  3. #44UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: OBSERVED COOKING UTENSILS NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO AVOID CONTAMINATION BY INVERTING UTENSILS WITH HANDLES EXPOSED AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.
  4. #47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED FROZEN RAW CHICKEN STORED IN PLASTIC LINER IN BULK FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO USE FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS FOR STORING. OBSERVED CRATES IN TWO DOOR REFRIGERATOR USED TO STORE PRODUCE. INSTRUCTED TO USE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN.
  5. #53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE UNISEX TOILET ROOM WITH NO COVERED RECEPTACLE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
  6. #56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: OBSERVED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE LIGHTING INTENSITY TO ENSURE VISIBILITY. MUST MAINTAIN.

Inspection history

DateTypeResultRisk
Oct 16, 2025Canvass Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 6, 2025CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Oct 3, 2024CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Aug 31, 2023CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Sep 30, 2022CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Apr 1, 2021CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Sep 20, 2019CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Oct 26, 2018Short Form ComplaintPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Oct 22, 2018Short Form ComplaintNo EntryRisk 1 (High)
Sep 21, 2018Canvass Re-InspectionPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Sep 14, 2018CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Sep 19, 2017CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Jun 7, 2016CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Sep 22, 2015CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Jul 21, 2014CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Dec 9, 2013LicensePassRisk 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 60632

Tacaria Seven Brothers3755 S Kedzie AveEl Castillo Meat Market, Inc3704 W 55th StEntre Panas Restaurant2430 W 47th StNeveria Y Paleteria La Michoacana Jugolandia Inc.5106 S Archer AveAntojitos La Michoacana5106 S Archer AveShiki Buffet4717 S Kedzie Ave

Mezquite Pollo Express — questions

Did Mezquite Pollo Express pass its last health inspection?
Mezquite Pollo Express at 2809 W 55th St was inspected on Oct 16, 2025 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 Mezquite Pollo Express?
The most recent inspection cited 6 violations, beginning with: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: OBSERVED PRE PACKAGED COOKIES AND PECAN BARS MADE ON SITE WITHOUT LABEL OF BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS. INSTRUCTED TO 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.

Search another establishment · Browse all inspections · More about 60632