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TACOS LA GUARACHA INC.

3445 W 51ST ST, CHICAGO, IL 60632 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TACOS LA GUARACHA INC. has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since November 8, 2024. The most recent inspection, on July 30, 2026, recorded 7 infractions.

1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 7 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 14, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 December 12, 2024. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 December 12, 2024. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 30, 2026. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 30, 2026. For example: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

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

    7 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED TAPE ON DAMAGED GASKETS OF BOTH DOORS OF TWO DOOR REFRIGERATOR AND TAPE ON DAMAGED GASKET OF LEFT DOOR OF SMALL TWO DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT ACROSS FROM COOKLINE.INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE DAMAGED GASKETS ON TWO REFRIGERATOR AND SMALL TWO DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED RUST ON LOWER SHELF OF PREP TABLE IN PREP AREA NEXT TO HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST FROM LOWER SHELF OF PREP TABLE IN SAID AREA, INSTRUCTED NONFOOD CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF A CORROSION RESISTANT, NONABSORBENT AND SMOOTH MATERIAL FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BUILDUP AND DEBRIS ON FLOORS, ALONG BASES OF WALL AND IN CORNERS BEHIND AND ON THE SIDES OF GREASE TRAP AND UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS, ALONG BASES OF WALL AND IN CORNERS BEHIND AND ON THE SIDES OF GREASE TRAP AND UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED DUST ON CEILING VENT ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN CEILING VENT ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND MAINTAIN
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NON WORKING LIGHT NEAR REAR EXIT IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE NON WORKING LIGHT IN PREP AREA NEAR REAR EXIT DOOR.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • AT TIME OF INSPECTION FACILITY PROVIDED NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ANY FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • AT TIME OF INSPECTION FACILITY PROVIDED NO ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR EMPLOYEE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.
  2. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • WIPING CLOTHS IMPROPERLY STORED. INSTD TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • CERAMIC/CLAY DRINKING CUPS ON SITE. INSTD TO ENSURE CUPS ARE LEAD FREE OR LEAD SAFE LEVELS AND MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF SUCH ON SITE; OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
  3. License

    5 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICIES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • VOMIT/DIARHHEA CLEAN-UP KIT NOT COMPLETE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN COMPLETE KIT AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • THE STEM THERMOMETER IS ON SITE BUT IN NEED OF CALIBRATION. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE ARE IN NEED OF ALLERGEN CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN.
  4. License

    0 infractions

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