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TACO BELL CANTINA

5245 N CLARK ST, CHICAGO, IL 60640 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TACO BELL CANTINA has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since April 5, 2024. The most recent inspection, on June 24, 2026, found no infractions.

1 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.

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 January 26, 2026. 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 7, 2025. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 April 5, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 14, 2025. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

  • 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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 7, 2025. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

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.

5 inspections

  1. Complaint

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • NOTED NO HOT RUNNING WATER AT THE HAND WASHING SINKS OF THE PREP AREA. HOT WATER TEMPERATURE OF SINKS WERE 84.2F/91F. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C).
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • NOTED TORN RUBBER GASKET AT THE BOTTOM DOOR OF THE WALK IN FREEZER AT THE BASMEMENT FOOD DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AND/OR REPLACE.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • 2-102.13 NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.
  4. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE VERIFIED WRITTEN HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. BUSINESS HAS BLANK, UNVERIFIED HEALTH POLICIES. MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN HEALTH POLICY VERIFIED BY ALL EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • NOTED A NON-FUNCTIONAL EXTERNAL THERMOMETER FOR THE WALK-IN COOLER AND NO INTERNAL THERMOMETER IN THE COOLER. MUST REPAIR THE EXTERNAL THERMOMETER OR PROVIDE AN ACCURATE INTERNAL THERMOMETER FOR THE WALK-IN COOLER.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • UNUSED TALL REACH-IN COOLER IN THE BASEMENT MUST BE REPAIRED/FUNCTIONAL OR REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • NOTED A DIRTY FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THE SODA DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING OR CERTIFICATE FOR THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #2592224 ON 4-5-24 NOT CORRECTED. #39-3-305.11--- OBSERVED WASTE LINES IN BASEMENT STORAGE NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED TO PROTECT FROM LEAKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO NOT STORE ANY FOOD, EQUIPMENT, OR SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS BELOW WASTE LINES. #53- 5-501.17-- OBSERVED NO LID ON TRASH RECEPTACLES IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE RECEPTACLE WITH LID IN EACH TOILET ROOM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.
  5. License

    5 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS CLEAN UP KIT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE PROCEDURE/SPILL KIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO THERMOMETERS PRESENT IN REACH IN AND STANDING COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A THERMOMETER IN EACH COLD HOLDING UNIT.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED WASTE LINES IN BASEMENT STORAGE NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED TO PROTECT FROM LEAKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO NOT STORE ANY FOOD, EQUIPMENT, OR SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS BELOW WASTE LINES.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO LID ON TRASH RECEPTACLES IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS. INTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE RECEPTACLE WITH LID IN EACH TOILET ROOM.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DEBRIS BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR IN THE ELECTRICAL ROOM OFF THE BACK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AREA FREE OF DEBRIS. COS.

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