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TACO BOOM

5116 N LINCOLN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TACO BOOM has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since August 4, 2021. The most recent inspection, on May 11, 2026, found no infractions.

2 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food source, labelling and allergens.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 21, 2025. For example: PROPER COOLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE

  • 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 July 21, 2025. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 July 22, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 July 22, 2024. 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 August 30, 2023. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

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

    3 infractions

    • 20. PROPER COOLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE
      • OBSERVED TWO CONTAINERS OF COOKED BEANS AT 85.6F IN THE 2-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER, FAILED TO COOL FROM 135.0F TO 70.0F WITHIN 2 HOURS. INSTRUCTED TO DENATURE AND DISCARD ALL TCS FOOD ITEMS THAT FAILED TO COOL AT PROPER TIME AND TEMPERATURES AND INSTRUCTED TO COOL TCS FOOD ITEMS FROM 135.0F TO 70.0F WITHIN 2 HOURS, AND FROM 70.0F TO 41.0F OR BELOW WITHIN 4 HOURS, FOR A TOTAL OF 6 HOURS UTILIZING APPROVED METHODS SUCH AS ICE BATHS, ICE WANDS, OR DISTRIBUTING FOOD INTO SMALLER CONTAINERS. APPROXIMATELY 30 LBS. OF FOOD VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $75.00 DISCARDED ON-SITE. PERSON-IN-CHARGE DENATURED AND DISCARDED ALL MENTIONED TCS FOOD ON-SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEE IN THE MAIN KITCHEN AREA WEARING ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINT BUT MISSING ADEQUATE BEARD RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE BEARD RESTRAINTS FOR ALL REQUIRED FOOD EMPLOYEES WHEN HANDLING OR PREPARING FOOD AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MOP STORED IN THE UTILITY SINK CLOSET WITH MOP HEAD IN CONTACT WITH WALL SURFACE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE MOPS SUCH THAT SOILED MOP HEADS DO NOT CONTAMINATE FLOORS, WALLS, OR OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES WHILE DRYING AND MAINTAIN.
  3. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS IN REAR WITHOUT A LABEL.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE COMMON NAME ON ALL BULK CONTAINERS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY ITEM (SALT, SUGAR, FLOUR ETC).
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE ALL WASHCLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION ESPECIALLY WHEN NOT IN USE.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED MISSING LIGHT SHIELD FOR LIGHT FIXTURE AT KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED MARINATED BEEF WITH AN INADEQUATE TEMPERATURE OF 48 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COLD FOODS ARE HELD AT 41 F AND BELOW. MANAGER DISCARDED 10 POUNDS OF MARINATED BEEF ($70). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED MENU WITH DISCLOSURE STATEMENT BUT NO REMINDER ASTERISK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INCLUDE ASTERISK FOR REMINDER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED WASTE WATER BACKING UP FROM THE FLOOR DRAIN IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA WHEN THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IS DRAINED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SO THAT THE FLOOR DRAIN IS NOT BACKING UP WITH WASTE WATER. PRIORITY 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
  6. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE AND ACCURATE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKY DRAINPIPE UNDERNEATH HANDSINK IN PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOOD HANDLERS WITH INCOMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER IN CHARGE WIHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.
  7. License

    1 infraction

    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE WOMEN'S WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE.

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