El Jefe's Taqueria

80 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Feb 20, 2026

Score

Low Risk

The health department has logged seven inspections at El Jefe's Taqueria, the earliest from 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Feb 20, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near one violation per visit.

The pattern that stands out is “food storage containers identified with common name of food”, which has been cited two times.

Among Boston restaurants, the typical score is 86; El Jefe's Taqueria is comfortably above that bar. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 20, 2026

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Controlling pests (pf)

Inspector notes: Observed rodent droppings on the floor in the electrical room. Clean to remove droppings. Contact licensed exterminator and provide a detailed IPM report. Did not observe any droppings or pests in the seating area or kitchen or front counter area. PIC did not have the past pest reports onsite. Spoke to the PIC about the importance of looking over the pest reports to address any issues that may be stated on the report. PIC was able to provide the pest report 2/2/26. Report is clean. PIC stated that the electrical room is owned and managed by Emerson College.

590.006/6-501.111-PF

Sep 12, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Good repair and proper adjustment-equipment (c)

Inspector notes: Repair the interior drawer gasket under the char broiler.

590.004/4-501.11-C

Jun 4, 2025

Routine

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Sanitizing solutions testing devices (pf)

Inspector notes: No test kit for quats sanitizer. Provide.

590.004/4-302.14-PF

Maintaining refuse areas and enclosures (c)

Inspector notes: Standing water under compactor dumpster. Clean to remove.

590.005/5-501.115-C

Mar 17, 2025

Routine

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Treating juice (pf)

Inspector notes: Untreated Fresh squeezed bottle on site orange juice without warning label. Provide.

590.003/3-404.11-PF

Nonfood contact surfaces (c)

Inspector notes: Ceiling in prep room with visible soils. Clean to remove.

590.004/4-602.13-C

Dec 20, 2024

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)

Inspector notes: Squeeze bottles not labeled. Corrected on site.

590.003/3-302.12-C

Feb 9, 2024

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Floor carpeting restrictions and installation (c)

Inspector notes: Remove carpet section in rear hallway and install cleanable flooring.

590.006/6-201.14-C

Feb 22, 2023

Routine

3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 10 minor violations.

View 14 violations

(a) gloves use limitation (p)

Inspector notes: Food handlers leaving and returning to work station wearing disposable gloves

590.003/3-304.15-P

Clean condition-hands and arms (p)

Inspector notes: Observed food handlers not lathering for 20 seconds and shutting off faucet with a barrier - PIC took immediate corrective action during inspection

590.002/2-301.11-P

When to wash (p)

Inspector notes: Observed multiple food handlers donning on clean gloves with out washing hands - PIC took immediate corrective action

590.002/2-301.14-P

Food labels (pf)

Inspector notes: Drinks prepared on premises and are in self service refrigeration units are not labeled - Grab and Go

590.003/3-602.11-PF

Packaged and unpackaged food-separation packaging and segregation (c)

Inspector notes: Open foods not stored in food grade covered containers with lids - Storage room

590.003/3-302.11-C

Food storage-preventing contamination from the premises (c)

Inspector notes: Storing and bagging chips in hallway - This is not an approved area. Customer's have access to this area and there is not a hand washing sink etc Back storage room - Foods are not raised 6" off the floor Using crates for shelving in food storage Using crates to store onions etc - Prep area

590.003/3-305.11-C

Food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)

Inspector notes: Food storage containers not labled - Kitchen/prep/storage areas

590.003/3-302.12-C

Manual warewashing sink compartment requirements (c)

Inspector notes: Plugs in each bay are not tight fitting - Using disposable gloves to hold plugs in place (3 bay sink - Ware washing)

590.004/4-301.12-C

Wiping cloths use limitation (c)

Inspector notes: Wiping cloth bucket have food particles in them. Wiping cloths are not stored per code in sanitizing solution

590.003/3-304.14-C

Toilet rooms enclosed (c)

Inspector notes: Bathroom door not self closing

590.006/6-202.14-C

Floors walls and ceilings-cleanability (c)

Inspector notes: Dust on hood filters above cooking equipment Carpet in back hall in need of shampooing eminating foul odors

590.006/6-201.11-C

Toilet room receptacle covered (c)

Inspector notes: No covered waste receptacle in small unisex bathroom

590.005/5-501.17-C

Equipment and utensils air-drying required (c)

Inspector notes: Stacking clean and sanitized equipment on drain boards above 3 bay sink

590.004/4-901.11-C

Cooking and baking equipment (c)

Inspector notes: Built up soils on grill - Cooking line

590.004/4-602.12-C

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Jefe's Taqueria last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Jefe's Taqueria on file is from Feb 20, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Jefe's Taqueria?

Across the inspection record, “food storage containers identified with common name of food” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Jefe's Taqueria.

How does El Jefe's Taqueria compare to other restaurants in Boston?

El Jefe's Taqueria most recently scored 90 out of 100, which is higher than the Boston average of 86.

Has El Jefe's Taqueria's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Jefe's Taqueria have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at El Jefe's Taqueria means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

How often is El Jefe's Taqueria inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Jefe's Taqueria is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Burg & Shaw

80 Boylston St

Score: 100 — Low Risk

Explore More

→ All locations in Boston → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Boston