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AZTECAS MEX TAQUERIA

5421 N LINCOLN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

AZTECAS MEX TAQUERIA has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 20, 2011. The most recent inspection, on September 26, 2013, found no infractions.

1 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food temperature control and Food source, labelling and allergens.

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.

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 5, 2013. For example: HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2012. For example: REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

  • 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 July 5, 2013. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

    Recorded 12 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on July 5, 2013. For example: CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES

  • 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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 5, 2013. For example: FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 6. HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.
      • POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICE; OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER/CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER TOUCHING/SCRATCHING FACE/NOSE WHILE PREPARING TACOS, HOWEVER NOT WASHING HIS HANDS. INSTRUCTED HAND MUST BE WASHED AFTER ANY CONTAMINATING CONDITION INSIDE THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK WITH WARM WATER AND SOAP. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED, 7-38-010(A).
    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • PREP FOODS INSIDE STORAGE COOLER AND DRIED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT LABELED; INSTRUCTED TO DATE/LABEL AND MAINTAIN.
    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS IMPROPERLY STORED; INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORED/INVERT TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • DEBRIS/FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE BUILD-UP ON EQUIPMENT; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN/SANITIZE; FREEZERS, BOTTOM PANELS OF STEAM TABLE AND COOKING EQUIPMENT AND STORAGE SHELVES AT FRONT BAR AREA.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • DEBRIS AND GREASE ON FLOORS; MUST DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT AT KITCHEN AND AT CORNERS AND ALONG WALLS INSIDE FURNACE CLOSET AND REAR STORAGE AREA.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OPENING ON WALLS AT REAR STORAGE AREA; INSTRUCTED TO SEAL TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY. DAMAGED CEILING PANELS AT REAR NEAR THE WASHROOMS; INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE PANELS. EXCESSIVE GREASE ON HOOD AND FILTERS; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • NO HAIR RESTRAINT; INSTRUCTED FOOD HANDLER MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINT.
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 40. REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS AND FREEZERS.--------MUST PROVIDE METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF HOT AND COLD FOODS.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES STORED INSIDE BOILER ROOM (REAR) TO PREVENT RODENT AND INSECT HARBORAGE.
  4. Short Form Complaint

    7 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • Inspector Comments: All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair. BROKEN GASKETS ON PREP REACH IN COOLER, MUST REPLACE.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • Inspector Comments: All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage. COOKING EQUIPMENT, FREEZERS AND STORAGE SHELVES NOT CLEAN, MUST CLEAN-SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. ALSO MUST REMOVE CARDBOARD AND FOIL COVERING FROM SHELVES AND COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • Inspector Comments: The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. FLOORS NEED CLEANING UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT AND FURNACE CLOSET, MUST CLEAN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • Inspector Comments: The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned. SOUTH WALL INSIDE WOMEN'S WASHROOM MUST BE REPAIRED/REPAINTED; ALSO MUST REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING PANELS AT DINING AREA AND CLEAN HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • Inspector Comments: Shielding to protect against broken glass falling into food shall be provided for all artificial lighting sources in preparation, service, and display facilities. MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS ABOVE FREEZERS, MUST REPLACE.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • Inspector Comments: All employees shall be required to use effective hair restraints to confine hair.
    • 43. FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED
      • Inspector Comments: CLEANING TOWELS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED.
  5. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 8. SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME
      • Equipment and utensils should get proper exposure to the sanitizing solution during the rinse cycle. Bactericidal treatment shall consist of exposure of all dish and utensil surfaces to a rinse of clean water at a temperature of not less than 180F. OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER, WASHING AND RINSING MULTI-USE UTENSILS IN 3PART SINK AND SETTING THEM TO DRY WITHOUT USING A SANITIZING METHOD. INADEQUATE UTENSILS SANITATION. INSTRUCTED/DEMOSTRATED PROPER SET UP OF 3PART SINK FOR WASHING, RINSING AND SANITIZING WITH 100PPM CHLORINE. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED, 7-38-030.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair. BROKEN GASKETS ON PREP REACH IN COOLER, MUST REPLACE.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage. COOKING EQUIPMENT, FREEZERS AND STORAGE SHELVES NOT CLEAN, MUST CLEAN-SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. ALSO MUST REMOVE CARDBOARD AND FOIL COVERING FROM SHELVES AND COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. FLOORS NEED CLEANING UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT AND FURNACE CLOSET, MUST CLEAN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned. SOUTH WALL INSIDE WOMEN'S WASHROOM MUST BE REPAIRED/REPAINTED; ALSO MUST REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING PANELS AT DINING AREA AND CLEAN HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • Shielding to protect against broken glass falling into food shall be provided for all artificial lighting sources in preparation, service, and display facilities. MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS ABOVE FREEZERS, MUST REPLACE.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • All employees shall be required to use effective hair restraints to confine hair.
    • 43. FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED
      • CLEANING TOWELS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED.

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