Carnitas Michoacan
Last inspected: Jan 22, 2026
86
Score
Inspectors have visited Carnitas Michoacan 10 times, with records going back to 2016. The newest entry in the record is dated Jan 22, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near three violations per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been the most frequent reason, cited five times.
Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 22, 2026
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD UP ON INTERIOR RIGHT SIDE OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
16
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MEAT STORED IN GRAY CANS NOT MARKED AS FOOD GRADE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPLACE WITH FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS OR PROVIDE VERIFICATION.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD UP OF DEBRIS ON FLOOR BESIDE OF HOT WATER TANK IN FURNACE ROOM. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
86
Jan 23, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: MISSING HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT HANDWASH SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTD TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE AND MAINTIN
10
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: REAR OVERHEAD DOOR NOT PROTECTED, APPROX 1/4 INCH GAP AT BOTTOM CORNER. INSTD TO REPAIR SAME AS TO BE PROTECTED/TIGHT FITTING
38
90
Jun 4, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: CUPS BEING USED AS A DISPENSING UTENSIL IN BULK DRY FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CUPS AND REPLACE WITH UTENSILS WITH A HANDLE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND MAINTAIN.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 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 CUPS FROM PREMISES
47
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: DEAD INSECTS IN FURNACE ROOM. INSTD TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN CLEAN
38
86
Oct 25, 2023
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS FLOOR MATS AT KETTLE FRYERS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE AT UTILITY SINK IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO ENSURE DEVICE CAN BE LOCATED, SERVICED, AND MAINTAINED.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS IN THE FURNACE/BOILER ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
86
Dec 13, 2022
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-101.11(B, C, D, E) : 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 CUPS FROM PREMISES
47
95
Nov 29, 2022
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: LARGE CARNITA POTS ON SITE UNABLE TO SUBMERGE IN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. PIC STATES POTS ARE NOT SANITIZED, THEY ARE TOO LARGE. INSTD TO REMOVE POTS AND PROVIDE SMALLER EQUIPMENT, OR 3-COMPARTMENT WITH BASINS TO FULLY SUBMERGE LARGEST PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, OR WRITTEN ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE AND SANITIZE SUCH EQUIPMENT. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-025 PRIORITY FOUNDATION
48
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: NO DATE MARKING ON COOKED RICE, COOKED BEANS, SALSAS IN PREP COOLER, DISPLAY COOLER AND WALK IN COOLER. ALL ABOVE DISCARDED AND DENATURED. ALL TCS REFRIGERATED FOODS HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS SHALL BE CLEARLY MARKED TO INDICATE THE DAY OR DATE by which the FOOD shall be consumed on the PREMISES, sold, or discarded when held at a temperature of 5�C (41�F) or less for a maximum of seven (7) days. The day of preparation shall be counted as Day 1. CITATION ISSUED PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 PRIORITY FOUNDATION. APPROX 20LBS $100 VALUE.
23
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 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 CUPS FROM PREMISES
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: MISSING BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE.
51
74
Feb 10, 2021
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: REAR EXIT DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS.
38
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED OLD IN POOR REPAIR SPONGES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO OBTAIN WIPING CLOTHS AND KEEP IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN IN USE. NO
41
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
82
Jun 5, 2019
Routine
4 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROCEDURES AND SUPPLIES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CLEAN UP POLICY AND SUPPLIES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
5
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED READY TO EAT SALSA, DICED TOMATOES, SOUR CREAM, ETC NOT LABELED AND DATED IN COOLERS. INSTRUCUTED TO LABEL AND DATE ALL REFRIGERATED READY TO EAT TCS FOOD HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
23
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY AND DISCLOSURE ON MENU. IINSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CONSUMER ADVISORY AND DISCLOSURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
25
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD LABELS ON PACKAGED PORK SKINS DISPLAYED FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL WITH NAME, INGREDIENTS, NET WEIGHT, BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS.
37
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS NOT LABELED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL BULK CONTAINERS.
37
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
45
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACK FLOW DEVICE ON UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LIGHT SHIELDS AND END CAPS MISSING IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE LIGHT SHIELDS AND END CAPS.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
45
Jul 20, 2017
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: OBSERVED REAR COOKING LIGHT SHIELDS NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
35
95
Nov 9, 2016
License
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE IN NEED OF CLEANING. MUST CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.
33
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW DEVICE NEEDED AT ICE MACHINE. MUST INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: MUST REMOVE ALL UNUSED EQUIPMENT. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.
41
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Carnitas Michoacan last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Carnitas Michoacan on file is from Jan 22, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Carnitas Michoacan?
Across the inspection record, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Carnitas Michoacan.
Has Carnitas Michoacan's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Carnitas Michoacan have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Carnitas Michoacan 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 Carnitas Michoacan inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Carnitas Michoacan is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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