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TAMALERIA LUPITA

5904 1/2 W 63RD ST, CHICAGO, IL 60638 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TAMALERIA LUPITA has been inspected 10 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since October 6, 2021. The most recent inspection, on February 19, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.

1 of 10 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 4 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 6 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on May 29, 2024. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 6, 2024. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 9, 2025. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 29, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 10 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on February 19, 2026. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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.

10 inspections

  1. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE LEAK AT BOTTOM PIPE OF FIRST SINK COMPARTMENT WHERE PIPE AND DRAIN CONNECT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED HOLE IN WALL IN REAR OF FACILTY WHERE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS CREATING DAMAGE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEE ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION HAS EXPIRED ALLERGEN CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN UPDATE TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
  2. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • PIC WITHOUT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER CERTIFICATE. INSTD TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATE AND MAINTAIN ON SITE AT ALL TIMES
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE WHILE HANDLING TCS FOODS (TAMALES). INSTD TO HAVE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012 PRIORITY FOUNDATION
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • STYROFOAM CUPS SUBMERGED IN SALSA CONTAINERS AND BEING USED AS DISPENSING UTENSILS. INSTD TO REMOVE CUPS AND USE PROPER DISPENSING UTENSILS TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • CONTAINERS OF SAUCE STORED ON FLOOR. INSTD TO ELEVATE 6 INCHES AND MAINTAIN
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • NO TOILET TISSUE IN TOILET ROOM NOR ON PREMISES. INSTD TO HAVE IN TOILET ROOM AT ALL TIMES. EMPLOYEE LEFT TO OBTAIN TOILET PAPER AND RETURNED AT END OF INSPECTION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-010 PRIORITY FOUNDATION
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER. INSTD TO PROVDE AND MAINTAIN
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • 4-602.13 OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF SALSA STORED IN 2-DOOR COOLER COVERED IN FOOD SPLATTERS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-201.11 OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON THE WALL NEAR THE COMPARTMENT SINK AND THE WALL BETWEEN THE DISH AREA AND THE REAR RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE
  4. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO ADEQUATE SUPPLIES (DISPOSABLE MOP, DISPOSABLE LATEX GLOVES, DISPOSABLE MASK, AND ADEQUATE SANITIZER *MUST ELIMINATE NOROVIRUS*) ON SITE TO PROPERLY CLEAN UP ANY VOMIT OR DIARRHEA EVENTS THAT CAN POTENTIALLY OCCUR INSIDE OF THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES FOR VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEAN UP. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGN AT FRONT PREP AREA HANDSINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF BULK INGREDIENTS NOT LABELED WITH COMMON NAME. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO LABEL ALL BULK ITEMS NOT IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITH COMMON NAME.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED CUP STORED IN CONTAINER OF LIQUID BEING USED AS SERVING UTENSIL. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND USE PROPER UTENSIL FOR SERVICE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK STOPPERS MISSING AT THE LEFT SIDE AND MIDDLE COMPARTMENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA. WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM THE 2ND SINK BASIN, WATER BACKS UP INTO THE 1ST AND 3RD SINK BASINS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR BEFORE RE-INSPECTION DATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF SALSA STORED IN 2-DOOR COOLER COVERED IN FOOD SPLATTERS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON THE WALL NEAR THE COMPARTMENT SINK AND THE WALL BETWEEN THE DISH AREA AND THE REAR RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
  5. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
  6. Canvass Re-Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS AT HAND WASHING SINKS IN DISH WASHING AND WASHROOM AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS USED BY EMPLOYEES.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSRVED SINGLE SERVICE UTENSILS NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL UTENSILS TO PROTECT LIP CONTACT SURFACES FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON WASHROOM DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    • 59. PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2573553 ON 4-3-23:48-OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR IMMERSIOON OF LARGEST FOOD EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INSTALL LARGER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK OR PROVIDE SMALLER FOOD EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. PRIORITY 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED
  7. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS AT HAND WASHING SINKS IN DISH WASHING AND WASHROOM AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS USED BY EMPLOYEES.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED TWO CONTAINERS OF CORN HUSKS STORED INSIDE UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR IMMERSION OF LARGEST FOOD EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INSTALL LARGER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK OR PROVIDE SMALLER FOOD EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025 CITATION ISSUED
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON WASHROOM DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  8. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF DEBRIS AND FOOD GRIME ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT AND SHELVING IN KITCHEN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  9. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  10. License

    4 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA KIT ON SITE AT TIME OF REINSPECTION INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • HAND SINK NEEDED AT DISH AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS MUST HAVE NAME OF PRODUCT INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.

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