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ALEX LA MICHOACANA #1

5420 W FULLERTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

ALEX LA MICHOACANA #1 has been inspected 9 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 17, 2019. The most recent inspection, on March 12, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

3 of 9 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Food source, labelling and allergens and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on March 23, 2022. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded once on February 5, 2021. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded once on February 5, 2021. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on February 5, 2021. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 8 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on March 12, 2026. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

9 inspections

  1. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 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.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  2. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPPED (SUCH AS CHEESE,MILK, ICE CREAM, MILK. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPPED/SERVED. INSTRUCTED MUST POST A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATION IN PLAIN VIEW OF CUSTOMERS AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED 1 EMPLOYEES WORKING WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATES MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES INSIDE OF UNISEX TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN REAR FOOD PREPARATIO AREA. MUST REMOVE CLUTTER CLEAN AND ORGANIZE AREA TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS 6 INCHES OFF FLOOR AT ALL TIMES.
  5. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED WATER DRIPPING FROM PIPE BELOW HAND WASHING SINK IN DISH WASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
  6. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • FOUND PERSONAL EMPLOYEE FOOD STORED THROUGHOUT THE SLIDING 2-DOOR COOLER IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO STORE PERSONAL FOOD IN A DESIGNATED AREA WITHIN THE COOLER THAT IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE FACILITY'S FOOD.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED AN UNSEALED MATERIAL (WOOD) USED AS STORAGE SHELVING WITHIN THE CHEST FREEZERS AND ON THE WALL ABOVE THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE OR SEAL THE WOOD TO MAKE SMOOTH, NON-ABSORBENT, EASILY CLEANABLE AND NON-POROUS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • FOUND EMPLOYEE'S PERSONAL CLOTHING STORED ON TOP OF TO-GO SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS AND CLEAN DISHES IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO REMOVE CLOTHING AND STORE A DESIGNATED AREA AWAY FROM FOOD, DISHES, ETC.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM 2/5/2021 REPORT #2484571 NOT CORRECTED: VIOLATION #55(6-501.114) MUST REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN REAR FOOD PREPARATIO AREA. MUST REMOVE CLUTTER CLEAN AND ORGANIZE AREA TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE. VIOLATION #58 (2-102.13) OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING. MUST CORRECT PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.
  8. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE IN FOOD PREPARATION AREA NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO WEAR HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED WIING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF COOLERS AND PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN REAR FOOD PREPARATIO AREA. MUST REMOVE CLUTTER CLEAN AND ORGANIZE AREA TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS 6 INCHES OFF FLOOR AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON CEILING VENTILATION VENTS IN TOILET ROOM MUST CLEAN DUST FROM VENTS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED SMALL STOVE NOT STORED UNDERNEATH THE VENTILATION HOOD IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT MUST BE STORE UNDER VENTILATION HOOD OR MUST REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  9. License

    0 infractions

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