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EL MALECON

9706 S COMMERCIAL AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60617 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

EL MALECON has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since April 25, 2024. The most recent inspection, on February 24, 2026, recorded 7 infractions.

1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 7 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Chemicals and toxic substances.

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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2026. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2026. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded once on February 24, 2026. For example: TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

  • 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 24, 2026. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2026. For example: CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

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.

4 inspections

  1. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • 2-101.11 OBSERVED NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE POSTED NOR ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS HAVE AN ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE ON SITE AND POSTED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • 6-301.14 OBSERVED A HANDWASHING SIGN IS NEEDED AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 28. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED
      • 7-102.11 OBSERVED A CONTAINER OF A CHEMICAL OUT OF IT'S ORIGINAL PACKAGING AND IN A SPRAY BOTTLE HANGING BY THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK WITHOUT A LABEL CONTAINING THE CHEMICAL'S COMMON NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL BOTTLES THAT CONTAIN CHEMICAL WHEN THE CHEMICAL IS NOT STORED IN THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING. MANAGER PROVIDED A LABEL FOR THE SPRAY BOTTLE DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-015.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • 3-302.12 OBSERVED DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS INADEQUATELY LABEL WITH THE COMMON NAME OF THE PRODUCT. OBSERVED A CONTAINER WITH THE LABEL "SAL" ON THE FRONT HOWEVER THE CONTAINER WAS A RICE STORAGE CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS PROPERLY.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • 4-301.13 OBSERVED A DRAINBOARD IS NEEDED AT THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.12 OBSERVED VENTS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH MINOR ACCUMULATED DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • 8-304.11(A) OBSERVED THE MOST PREVIOUS INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY DATED 1/6/25 NOT POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC'S VIEW. AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION THE FACILITY HAD THE INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY FROM 4/25/24 POSTED. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS POST THE MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY FOR THE PUBLIC'S VIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-010(B).
  2. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE OR VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED. A CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED CUP USED FOR DISPENSING RICE AND HANDLE OF SPOON LAYING INSIDE CONTAINER OF CEVICHE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE LONG HANDLE DISPENSING UTENSILS AND STORE DISPENSING UTENSIL HANDLE ABOVE FOOD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
  4. License

    5 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND WASHING SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SURFACE OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED DAMAGED DOOR GASKET ON TRUE REACH-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT IN PREP AND BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMs TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED GRILL IN REAR PREP AREA NOT UNDER VENTILATION HOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PLACE GRILL UNDER VENTILATION HOOD OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES.

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