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BAJA EXPRESS INN TAQUERIA 1, INC.

11128 S HALSTED ST, CHICAGO, IL 60628 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

BAJA EXPRESS INN TAQUERIA 1, INC. has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 6, 2022. The most recent inspection, on May 11, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

1 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 20, 2023. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 20, 2023. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 9 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on May 11, 2026. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

  • 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on May 11, 2026. For example: IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

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.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • FOUND THE ICE SCOOP STORED UNPROPERLY IN THE ICE BIN. INSTRUCTED TO STORE HANDLE UP IN THE ICE OR IN A CLEAN BIN/CONTAINER.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND BOTH FAUCETS ON THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LEAKS AT THE BASE. INSTRUCTED TO FIX LEAKS AND MAINTAIN GOOD PLUMBING.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND THE CEILING TILES IN THE TOILET ROOM WITH WATER STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE CEILING TILES AND MAINTAIN CLEAN TILES FREE OF WATER STAINS.
  2. Canvass

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CRATES USED AS SHELVING IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING FOR STORAGE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER IN REAR PREP AND COOLER AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ORGANIZE AND MAINTAIN ALL AREAS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND SPILLS ON FLOOR IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED DAMAGED DOOR GASKETS ON TWO-DOOR REACH-IN COOLER IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR COOLER DOOR GASKETS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO LIGHT INSIDE OUTSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Complaint Re-Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • 3-307.11 OBSERVED AN OPEN CAN OF TOMATO SAUCE STORED IN THE REAR THREE DOOR REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO REFRAIN FROM STORING FOOD IN OPEN CANS AND STORE IN FOOD GRADE STORAGE CONTAINERS.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • 4-904.11 OBSERVED TWO CUTTING BOARDS STORED BEHIND THE FAUCET HEAD AT THE ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA AND ONE CUTTING BOARD BEHIND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK FAUCET HEAD. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE SAID KITCHENWARE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • 4-601.11(B) OBSERVED SUGAR OR SALT RESIDUE ON THE SHELVING UNITS BELOW THE FOOD PREP TABLES AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE SAID DRY SPICE RESIDUE AND MAINTAIN.
  6. Complaint

    4 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED PINK AND BLACK SUBSTANCE THROUGHOUT INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE, INCLUDING THE DOORS ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. ICE MACHINES ARE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISUSED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED AN OPEN CAN OF TOMATO SAUCE STORED IN THE REAR THREE DOOR REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO REFRAIN FROM STORING FOOD IN OPEN CANS AND STORE IN FOOD GRADE SOTRAGE CONTAINERS.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • OBSERVED TWO CUTTING BOARDS STORED BEHIND THE FAUCET HEAD AT THE ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA AND ONE CUTTING BOARD BEHIND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK FAUCET HEAD. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE SAID KITCHENWARE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SUGAR OR SALT RESIDUE ON THE SHELVING UNITS BELOW THE FOOD PREP TABLES AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE SAID DRY SPICE RESIDUE AND MAINTAIN.
  7. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAKING DRAINPIPE UNDER FRONT HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER INSIDE REAR REACH-IN FREEZER AND REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY ORGANIZE ALL AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED STAINED CEILING TILES IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO LIGHT INSIDE OUTSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND MAINTAIN.

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