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OUTPOST MEXICAN EATERY

520 W HARRISON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60607 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

OUTPOST MEXICAN EATERY has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 21, 2020. The most recent inspection, on April 10, 2025, found no infractions.

1 of 7 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 20, 2022. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 once on July 20, 2022. For example: PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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, 2021. 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 9 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on April 29, 2024. For example: ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

  • 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 6 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on July 20, 2023. For example: ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS 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.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING AND AS STORAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.
  3. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON THE PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS (STEAK, CHICKEN) WERE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE-USE FORKS AND SPOONS STORED IMPROPERLY AT THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INVERT AND STORE ALL SINGLE-USE UTENSILS WITH THE HANDLES UP TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION BY HANDS.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CARDBOARD BEING USED TO LINE SHELVES IN THE DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS NON-ABSORBENT AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED HEAVY DUST BUILD UP ON THE VENTS ABOVE THE COOLERS LOCATED IN THE REAR COOKS LINE AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED MULTIPLE FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE APPROVED TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATES. MUST PROVIDE.
  4. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • 6-303.11--OBSERVED LIGHT BULB AT VENTILATION HOOD NOT WORKING. MUST REPLACE WITH OPERABLE LIGHTING.
  5. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED (PORK, CHICKEN). INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AND MAINTAIN WITH VERIFIABLE SIGNED COPIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES. PROVIDED COPY TO FACILITY DURING INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT HAND SINK LOCATED AT DISH WASHING AREA. MUST PROVIDE PAPER TOWELS AT HAND SINK AT ALL TIMES TO PROPERLY DRY HANDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 21. PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED COOKED PORK AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 129.2F. ALSO OBSERVED COOKED BEEF AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 125.2F. PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE MUST BE AT 135.0F OR ABOVE. FOOD HAS BEEN DISCARDED AND DENATURED. FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 20 LBS AT A COST OF $100.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED SEWAGE BACKUP FROM FLOOR DRAIN IN MAIN KITCHEN AREA WHEN WATER IS RUNNING AT HAND SINK IN KITCHEN. ALSO OBSERVED SEWAGE BACK UP AT FLOOR DRAIN IN KITCHEN WHEN WATER IS RUNNING AT HAND SINK AT FRONT REGISTER AREA. MUST USE HAND SINK IN DISH WASHING AREA FOR EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED LIGHT BULB AT VENTILATION HOOD NOT WORKING. MUST REPLACE WITH OPERABLE LIGHTING.
  6. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AND MAINTAIN WITH VERIFIABLE SIGNED COPIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES. PROVIDED COPY TO FACILITY DURING INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURES OR NECESSARY SUPPLIES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. SUPPLIES MUST INCLUDE ADEQUATE SANITIZER THAT ELIMINATES NOROVIRUS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE CLEAN UP POLICY AND SUPPLIES TO PROPERLY HANDLE BODILY FLUID SPILLS ON SITE. (REFER TO REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE). PROVIDED COPY TO FACILITY DURING INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • NOTED LABELING MISSING FROM TWO BULK STORAGE CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH CONTENTS NAME.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED COOKED RICE STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY STORE BAG WHILE HOT-HOLD UNIT. RECOMMENDED USE OF HOT-HOLD LINER BAGS (EX. CROCKPOT LINER). INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED SLOW DRAINING REAR PREP HANDSINK NEAR 3-COMP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED NO WASTE RECEPTACLE AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN PREP AREA WHERE DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS ARE PROVIDED. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT WASTE RECEPTACLE FOR PROPER DISPOSAL.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED EXPIRED AND MISSING FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES.
  7. License

    3 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

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