Skip to content
Loading map…

TAQUERIA EL COSTENO INC.

2007-2009 S DAMEN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60608 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TAQUERIA EL COSTENO INC. has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 7, 2023. The most recent inspection, on April 11, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Pests.

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 once on April 11, 2025. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 April 11, 2025. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 once on March 18, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 18, 2024. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

  • 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 2 times on March 18, 2024. For example: IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

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

    2 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • 2-402.11 OBSERVED THE MALE FOOD HANDLER WITH A BEARD AND WITHOUT A BEARD GUARD. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • 4-301.12 OBSERVED ONLY ONE SINK STOPPER FOR THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO SINK STOPPERS AT ALL TIMES.
  2. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • 6-202.15 OBSERVED THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR WITH A 1/4 INCH GAP AT THE BOTTOM. INSTRUCTED TO MAKE SAID DOOR TIGHT FITTING AND RODENT PROOFED.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • 3-304.12 OBSERVED A SCOOP STORED INSIDE OF THE ICE BIN IN BETWEEN USES. INSTRUCTED TO STORE SCOOP PROPERLY IN BETWEEN USE.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • 4-502.13 OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL BEING USED AS A SHELF LINER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE, ALL SURFACES MUST BE EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE OR LOCATE.
  3. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-204.12 OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK. A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MUST BE LOCATED SO IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
  4. License

    3 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • FOUND NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGERS TO PROVIDE A VERIFIABLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND ACTIVITIES AS THEY RELATE TO DISEASES THAT ARE TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD TO THE PIC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE ICE MACHINE OR UTILITY SINK. A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MUST BE LOCATED SO IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED WASTE WATER BACK UP INTO WASH BASIN AND RINSE BASIN WHEN SANITIZER BASIN IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website