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RESTAURANT EL SOL DE MEXICO IN

6418 N WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60645 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

RESTAURANT EL SOL DE MEXICO IN has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 7, 2010. The most recent inspection, on November 6, 2012, found no infractions.

1 of 4 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: Food source, labelling and allergens, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 6, 2011. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • 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 May 6, 2011. For example: REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

  • 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 once on May 6, 2011. For example: APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN

  • 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 September 7, 2010. For example: NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

  • 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 9 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 6, 2011. For example: FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

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

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • MUST PROVIDE LABEL/NAME OF HE PRODUCT ON ALL FOOD CONTAINERS INSIDE THE REACH IN 2 DOOR COOLER. ALSO LABEL THE BULK CONTAINER OF CORN STARCH, FLOUR ,RICE.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REPAIR RIPPED OFF RUBBER GASKET OF THE ONE DOOR COOLER IN THE FRONT AREA AND MAINTAIN CAULKING ON THE SPLASH GUARD OF THE EXPOSED HAND SINK WORN OUT WITH BLACK SUBSTANCE MOLDY TYPE. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE CAULKING. NO LID FOR THE GARBAGE CANS IN THE PREP AREA. MUST PROVIDE LID. RUSTED INTERIOR OF THE CHEST FREEZER IN THE REAR STORAGE ROOM, MUST REMOVE RUST OR REPLACE.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL GREASY EXTERIOR OF THE GRILL, STOVE AND DEEP FRYER. CLEAN INTERIOR OF THE DOOR OF THE DEEP FRYER.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • NEED TO CLEAN IN DETAIL THE HOOD . MUST REPLACE STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE DINING AREA.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • LEAKING HEAVY ON THE FAUCET CONNECTOR OF THE 3 COMPT SINK. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN TO STOP THE LEAK. ALSO LEAK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ICE MACHINE. MUST REPAIR.
    • 40. REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS
      • MUST PROVIDE THERMOMETER IN THE REACH IN FREEZER AND CHEST FREEZER AND MUST BE VISIBLE.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE PREPARING AND COOKING FOODS NOT WEARING ANY HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO WEAR HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING AND SERVING FOODS.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • above violation still remaining.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • above violation still remaining.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • above violation still remaining.
  4. Canvass

    9 infractions

    • 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS
      • found observed front, and rear exit doors not rodent proofed, doors had gaps ranging from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch on bottoms, and sides of doors. citation issued #H000062818 with a court date of 10/14/2010, at 400 w superior in room #112 at 9:00am.
    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • found no certified food personnel with city of chicago food sanitation certificate at time of inspection, while preparing, handling potentially hazardous foods. citation issued with a court date of 10/14/2010, at 400 w superior in room #112 at 9:00am.
    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • found food items not properly dated/labeled in coolers, freezers, must date and label all food items in coolers, freezers.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • cooler shelving that had peeling paint, rust shall be repair/replaced.reach in freezer door in state of disrepair, shall be repair/replaced. gaskets of 2 door refrigerator in state of direpair, shall be repair/replaced.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • non food contact surfaces of cooler, ice machine, prep table, and cooking equipment not clean need detailed cleaning. storage shelving in rear storage areas, and front counter need detailed cleaning.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • floors under heavy equipment, cooking equipment, prep table need detailed cleaning(corners).floors in rear storage areas under shelving need detailed cleaning(corners).
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • damaged, stained ceiling tiles shall be replaced/repair, walls in prep area need cleaning.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • light shields in prep area, dining area not clean need cleaning.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • exhaust vents(ventilation)in coolers, prep area need cleaning.

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