Skip to content
Loading map…

EL FOGON TAPATIO TAQUERIA

3222 W ARMITAGE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

EL FOGON TAPATIO TAQUERIA has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since August 16, 2024. The most recent inspection, on March 19, 2026, recorded 5 infractions.

1 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 13 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 19, 2026. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 3 times on August 16, 2024. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 March 19, 2026. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded once on March 4, 2026. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 August 16, 2024. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

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.

6 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • 4-204.112(B)MISSING THERMOMETER INSIDE COOLING UNIT LOCATED IN FRONT DRINK PREP AREA. INSRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 4-501.11 OBSERVED TORN GASKETS AND EXCESSIVE DUCT ON THREE DOOR COOLER LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE GASKETS AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • 4-601.11(B) OBSERVED INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOLING UNITS LOCATED IN FRONT AND REAR PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DRIED FOOD DEBRIS BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.13 OBSERVED FOOD AND GREASE BUILD UP ON FLOOR UNDER HEAVY EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT PREMISE IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FOOD SOURCE FOR PEST.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-201.11 OBSERVED CEILING ATTACHMENTS IN DISREPAIR WITH HOLES AND WATER STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPACE AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES
  2. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION WITHOUT VALID ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE WHILE PREPARING AND SERVING TCS FOODS BEEF, PORK, RICE, BEANS AND SLICED TOMATOES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE CFM ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHILE OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • MISSING THERMOMETER INSIDE COOLING UNIT LOCATED IN FRONT DRINK PREP AREA. INSRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 75 SMALL RODENT DROPPINGS ON PREMISE IN THE FOLLOWING PLACES.. UNDER FRONT COUNTER ON SHELVING UNITS STORING KITCHENWARE (PLATES, CUPS) ALONG SIDE PREP COOLER, REAR PREP AREA ON FLOOR SCTTERED NEAR GREASE TRAP AND UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, BEHIND ALL COOLING UNITS IN REAR STORAGE ALONG WALL UNDER STORAGE RACKS IN SAID STROAGE SPACE, INSIDE ELECTRICAL BOX AND UNDERNEATH UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITZE ALL AREAS. MUST ELIMINATE RODENT ACTIVITY ON PREMISE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-020 (A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED TORN GASKETS AND EXCESSIVE DUCT ON THREE DOOR COOLER LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE GASKETS AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOLING UNITS LOCATED IN FRONT AND REAR PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DRIED FOOD DEBRIS BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FOOD AND GREASE BUILD UP ON FLOOR UNDER HEAVY EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT PREMISE IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FOOD SOURCE FOR PEST.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CEILING ATTACHMENTS IN DISREPAIR WITH HOLES AND WATER STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPACE AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED BURNED OUT LIGHT BULBS THROUGHOUT REAR PREP/STORAGE. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND INCREASE LIGHTING IN SAID AREA.
  3. Complaint Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Complaint

    3 infractions

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • FOUND INTERIOR OF COOLERS NOT CLEAN.MUST CLEAN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • FOUND SANITATION MANAGER WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT DATED 8-19-245 INSPECTION#2600335. VIOLATION 51. FOUND NO MOP SINK WITH VACUUM BREAKER AT PREMISES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION.CITATION ISSUED.7-42-090.MUST PROVIDE/INSTALL.
  5. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND NO MOP SINK WITH VACUUM BREAKER AT PREMISES.MUST PROVIDE.
  6. License

    6 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • FOUND NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AT PREMISES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION.NO CITATION ISSUED.7-38-010.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL CLEANUP PROCEDURE WITH SPILL KIT.PRIORITY FOUNDATION.NO CITATION ISSUED.7-38-005.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT SINKS AT PREPARATION AREAS/RESTROOMS.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO SOAP AT HAND SINKS AT PREPARATION AREAS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION.NO CITATION ISSUED.7-38-030.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • FOUND NO REMINDER/DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS WRITTEN INSIDE TAKE OUT MENU.PRIORITY FOUNDATION.NO CITATION ISSUED.7-38-005.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND NO MOP SINK WITH VACUUM BREAKER AT PREMISES.MUST PROVIDE.

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website