chicago.fyi
Sign inSign up

Restaurant inspections / Restaurant

Pepe'S Mexican Restaurant

131 E 79th St, Chicago 60619 · Risk 1 (High)

Pass w/ Conditions

Most recent result

Jun 25, 2026

47

Inspections on record

29

Times passed

6

Times failed

Violations cited on Jun 25, 2026

  1. #16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: NOTED TOP INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE NOT CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL SURFACES AND MAINTAIN.
  2. #23PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION - Comments: OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT, TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY (TCS) FOODS (COOKED TAMALES, RICE, GROUND BEEF AND CORN) NOT DATE MARKED TO INDICATE THE PRODUCT'S NAME AND DATE IN WHICH THE FOOD MUST BE SOLD, DISCARDED OR CONSUMED WITHIN 7 DAYS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER LABELS FOR DATE MARKING AND DISCARD DATE FOR REFRIGERATED, READY-TO-EAT, TCS FOODS HELD OVER 24HRS PLACED IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS. PERSON IN CHARGE DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROX. 50 LBS VALUED AT $100 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  3. #47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OUND THE DOOR OF THE ICE MACHINE IN THE REAR DISH WASHING AREA IN POOR REPAIR (WITH GAPS/OPENING). INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE/REPAIR DOOR AND MAINTAIN.
  4. #49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: FOUND THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS WITH GREASE AND DIRT BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FRYERS.
  5. #51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: NOTED LEAK COMING FROM EAST HOTWATER HANDLE OF KITCHEN 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO Repair
  6. #53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: NOTED NO SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON CUSTOMER WASHROOM DOOR. INSTRCUTED TO INSTALL.
  7. #56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: NOTED HEAVY DUST BUILDUP ON BATHROOM VENTILATION SYSTEMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  8. #56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: FOUND THE LIGHTING INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER NOT BRIGHT ENOUGHT TO SEE EFFECTIVELY INSIDE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING PER CITY CODE FOR PROPER CLEANING AND SAFETY PURPOSES. MAINTAIN SAME

Inspection history

DateTypeResultRisk
Jun 25, 2026ComplaintPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Jun 2, 2026CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Nov 20, 2025CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Apr 3, 2025Canvass Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Mar 27, 2025CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Dec 11, 2024CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 3, 2024CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Jan 30, 2024CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Nov 6, 2023CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Feb 16, 2023CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Nov 16, 2022CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Nov 4, 2022Complaint Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 25, 2022ComplaintFailRisk 1 (High)
May 19, 2022ComplaintPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Oct 6, 2021CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Feb 8, 2021CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 30, 2020CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Feb 24, 2020CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Nov 12, 2019CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Feb 19, 2019ComplaintPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Sep 28, 2018CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Sep 24, 2018ComplaintPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Nov 20, 2017CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Apr 6, 2017CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Dec 19, 2016CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 18, 2016Canvass Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 11, 2016CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Feb 18, 2016CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 28, 2015ComplaintPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 26, 2015Canvass Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 19, 2015CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Jul 28, 2015ComplaintPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 3, 2014Canvass Re-InspectionPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Sep 19, 2014CanvassFailRisk 1 (High)
Jan 3, 2014CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 8, 2013CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Jul 30, 2013ComplaintPassRisk 1 (High)
Feb 27, 2013CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Nov 20, 2012CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Oct 1, 2012CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Sep 8, 2011CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Feb 7, 2011Short Form ComplaintPassRisk 1 (High)
Jan 27, 2011CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Jan 10, 2011Suspected Food PoisoningPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 29, 2010ComplaintPassRisk 1 (High)
Jul 29, 2010ComplaintPassRisk 1 (High)
Jun 9, 2010CanvassPassRisk 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 60619

Young Achievers Academy518-520 E 79th StHarolds Chicken Chatham #82806- 808 E 79th StCrossover Grill835 E 75th StStepping Stones Early Childhood Learning Center1300 E 75th StMargarita'S Pizzeria346 E 75th StGina'S Unbelievable Learning Center7239-7241 S Dobson Ave

Pepe'S Mexican Restaurant — questions

Did Pepe'S Mexican Restaurant pass its last health inspection?
Pepe'S Mexican Restaurant at 131 E 79th St was inspected on Jun 25, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass w/ Conditions". Across 47 inspections on record it has failed 6 times.
What violations were cited at Pepe'S Mexican Restaurant?
The most recent inspection cited 8 violations, beginning with: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: NOTED TOP INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE NOT CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL SURFACES AND MAINTAIN.
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 60619