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RIO TACO'S, INC.

3246-3248 W FOSTER AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

RIO TACO'S, INC. has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 3, 2021. The most recent inspection, on January 7, 2025, found no infractions.

3 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, Pests and Protecting food from contamination.

The last 3 inspections in a row found no infractions. 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 11, 2023. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 11, 2023. 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 11, 2023. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 September 14, 2022. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 September 14, 2022. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

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. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.114 OBSERVED UNUSED COOLERS IN REAR OF EXTENDED DINING ROOM AND IN GARDEN AREA OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER DISCARD OR MAINTAIN COOLERS.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH EXPIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENT.
  5. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO BODILY FLUID CLEAN UP KIT ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE BODILY FLUID CLEAN UP KIT AND PROCEDURES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED 10 SMALL FLIES AND 10 LARGE FLIES THROUGHOUT FACILITY INCLUDING IN KITCHEN, IN DISH AREA, AND NEAR REAR DOOR; OBSERVED 20 RODENT DROPPINGS IN FURNACE ROOM NEAR EXTENDED DINING ROOM BATHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE ALL AREAS AFFECTED BY PESTS. PEST CONTROL SERVICE RECOMMENDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED PANS OF CHICKEN AND RICE LEFT UNCOVERED ON COUNTER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL FOOD IS COVERED TO AVOID CONTAMINATION.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED UNUSED OUT OF ORDER HAND WASHING SINK IN REAR OF EXTENDED DINNING ROOM NEAR EXIT DOOR AND UNISEX TOILET ROOM; OBSERVED UNUSED COOLERS IN REAR OF EXTENDED DINNING ROOM AND IN GARDEN AREA OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO MAINTAIN OR DISCARD COOLERS AND TO MAINTAIN OR REMOVE HANDWASHING SINK.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH EXPIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENT.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED WITHIN SPECIFIED TIMEFRAME. REPORT #2563655 DATED SEPTEMBER 14 2022 INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO #10 INSTALL HAND WASHING SIGNAGE IN TOILET ROOMS AND #51 REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET NECK AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. OBSERVED TOILET ROOM IN EXTENDED DINING ROOM WITH NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE; OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET NECK AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ADDRESS ALL PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS PRIORITY FOUDNATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.
  6. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDSINK INSIDE THE WASHROOMS.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED SOME FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABEL. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (FLOUR, RICE, SALT ETC).
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEACKY FAUCET NECK AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS INSIDE BOILER ROOM IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.
  7. License

    4 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED THE REAR EXIT DOOR IN THE REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA NOT RODENT PROOFED. THERE IS A 1/2" GAP ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR EXIT DOOR. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • REMOVE THE UNUSED REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FROM THE REAR AREA OF 3248 W. FOSTER.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • CLEAN THE WALLS IN THE FRONT PREP AREA AROUND THE STEAM TABLE AND REFRIGERATORS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED SEVERAL UNSHIELDED LIGHT FIXTURES ABOVE THE FRONT PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL LIGHT SHIELDS AND END CAPS FOR ALL FIXTURES.

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