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POLLO EXPRESS PILSEN

1315 W 18TH ST, CHICAGO, IL 60608 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

POLLO EXPRESS PILSEN has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since November 23, 2021. The most recent inspection, on June 17, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

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

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 4 separate inspections, most recently on June 17, 2026. For example: PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

  • 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 once on September 4, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 May 12, 2023. For example: FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED

  • 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 May 12, 2023. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 June 17, 2026. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

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

    2 infractions

    • 6. PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER PREPARING TO EAT SOMETHING AT FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED FOOD HANDLER NO EATING IN FOOD PREP AREA. HE DISCARDED FOOD ITEM CORRECT AT TIME OF INSPECTION
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • LEAK AT FAUCET ON 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AT 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Complaint

    6 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOOD HANDLERS IN THE FOOD PREP AREA AND NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE FOOD HANDLERS AND ANYONE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA AND HANDLING FOOD.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • WIPING CLOTHS NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION (SANITIZER MUST BE AT THE REQUIRED PPM). MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • CUTTING BOARDS IN THE FOOD PREP AREA WITH DEEP, DARK GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO SAND OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS TO MAINTAIN A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOOR TILES UNDER THE CHICKEN GRILL AND IN THE REAR BY THE TOILET ROOMS ARE DAMAGED/BROKEN. INSTRUCTED TO FIX AND/OR REPLACE FLOOR TILES. MAINTAIN SAME. -DAMAGED WALL PANEL ACROSS FROM THE CHICKEN GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO FIX THE WALL AND MAINTAIN A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOOD STAINS ON WALL PANELS IN FRONT OF THE CHICKEN GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN WALLS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MOPS STORED IN BUCKETS OF DIRTY WATER. INSTRUCTED TO STORE MOPS HANGING UP FOR PROPER AIR DRYING. MAINTAIN SAME.
  3. Complaint

    2 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • 2-402.11 OBSERVED TWO FEMALE FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINTS SUCH AS A CAP OR HAIR NET. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES.
    • 50. HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE
      • 5-103.11(B) OBSERVED INADEQUATE HOT WATER AT ALL SINKS; THE BEGINNING OF THE INSPECTION, HOT WATER RANGED FROM 70F-71F AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS IN THE FOOD PREP AREA AND TOILET ROOMS AND AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN ADEQUATE HOT WATER AT ALL SINKS AT ALL TIMES, HOT WATER MUST MAINTAIN 110F AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND 100F AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS. BY THE END OF THE INSPECTION, ADEQUATE HOT WATER WAS RESTORED TO ALL SINKS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUE 7-38-030(C).
  4. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • 2-402.11 OBSERVED FEMALE FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT PROPER HAIR RESTRAINTS SUCH AS A HAIR NET OR A CAP. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
  5. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 15. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
      • OBSERVED INADEQUATE FOOD STORAGE PRACTICES. OBSERVED RAW CHICKEN AND RAW BEEF STORED OVER AN OPEN BOX OF TOMATOES AND LIMES. FOOD SHALL BE PROTECTED FROM CROSS-CONTAMINATION BY ARRANGING ALL FOODS TO BE STORED, HELD, AND DISPLAYED IN ORDER OF MINIMUM COOKING TEMPERATURES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED. ITEMS STORED CORRECTLY AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK STORAGE CONTAINERS OF SUGAR, SALT, AND RICE STORED IN BASEMENT DRY STORAGE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • FOUND A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS.
  7. License

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THE FLOOR TILES IN THE FRONT PREP AREA AT THE GRILL IN POOR REPAIR(BROKEN TILES). MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

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