El Mariachi Restaurant
Last inspected: Jun 11, 2025
95
Score
The health department has logged 15 inspections at El Mariachi Restaurant, the earliest from 2010. Inspectors last stopped by on Jun 11, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around four violations each.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded seven times.
Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so El Mariachi Restaurant is doing better than most peers. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
15
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jun 11, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FEW DAMAGED AND MISSING WALL TILES UNDERNEATH THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA MUST REPAIR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN SURFACES SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES. OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON WALL IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAINT AND MAINTAIN.
55
95
Apr 22, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS ON PREP AREA WEST WALL AND GREASE BUILD UP ON WALL/CEILING ABOVE AND AROUND VENTILATION HOOD. MUST CLEAN PREP AREA WALLS AND CEILING.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS.
56
90
Nov 3, 2023
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: GREASE BUILD-UP INSIDE CABINET OF DEEP FRYER,CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: REPAIR LEAKING PIPE UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: SEAL FLOOR TILES AT BAR AREA.ALSO REMOVE UNEVEN CEMENT FLOOR AT SAME AREA.SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CAULKING ALONG THE HANDWASHING SINK AND THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS IN POOR RAIR/BROKEN MUST REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON ABSORBENT SURFACE
55
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: A SPLASH GUARD IS NEEDED BETWEEN THE HANDWASHING SINK AND THE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE PREP AREA. THE SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH, CLEAN, AND A NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: SHELF BASE INSIDE THE TWO-DOOR COOLER IS RUSTED. MUST REPAIR AND RESTORE TO A SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE OR REPLACE
47
70
Aug 30, 2022
Routine
9 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: A SIGN OR POSTER NOTIFYING FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS IS NOT PROVIDED AT ALL WITH HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES. PROVIDE A VISIBLE HANDWASHING SIGN AT EACH HAND SINK FIXTURE.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: DRY FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS ARE NOT LABELED IN THE PREP KITCHEN AREA. IDENTIFY FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITH A COMMON NAME OF FOOD.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: A METAL CONTAINER WITHOUT A HANDLE IS USED AS A SCOOP IN A RICE CONTAINER. THE FACILITY MUST PROVIDE A SCOOP WITH A HANDLE. REMOVED THE CONTAINER.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: THE CUTTING SURFACE IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED, WHICH PREVENTS PROPER CLEANING AND SANITIZING OF EQUIPMENT. RESURFACE BOARD OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARD.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: IN-USE EQUIPMENT (FOIL USED AS LINING OVER OVEN AND CARDBOARD USED AS LINING UNDER CONTAINER OF NACHO CHIPS). REMOVE FROM USE AND REPLACE WITH EQUIPMENT THAT IS DURABLE AND EASILY CLEANABLE MEETING National Sanitation Foundation/ANSI standards.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: SIDES OF COOKLINE EQUIPMENT IS SOILED WITH GREASE/DEBRIS. FACILITY MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: WALL TILES NEXT COOK VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM WERE FOUND IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR AND NOT SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. WALL TILES MUST BE INSTALLED, SO THEY ARE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: EXCESSIVE GREASE BUILDUP WAS FOUND ON THE WALL, AND CEILING SURFACES ADJACENT/ABOVE THE EXHAUST HOOD AND IN THE EXHAUST HOOD. VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEMS AND DEVICES SHALL BE DETAIL CLEANED AND MAINTAINED.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ARE PROVIDED ON SITE. FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST OBTAIN VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES AND PRESENT THEM ON SITE.
57
64
Mar 5, 2021
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE STORED IN THE CONTAINER OF SANITIZING SOLUTION PROVIDED IN BETWEEN USE.
41
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF THE TALL REACH-IN FREEZER AND BOTH MICROWAVE OVENS WITH EXCESSIVE FOOD DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: LEAK FROM A COMPRESSOR UNDER THE FRONT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK ONTO THE FLOOR.----LEAK AT THE NOZZLE ON THE KITCHEN THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR ALL.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILE IN THE WOMEN'S WASHROOM.----DAMAGED PLASTER WALL AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE KITCHEN, CEILING OF KITCHEN, WALLS THROUGHOUT KITCHEN.----MISSING DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN THE KITCHEN AND THE DINING ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE/REPAIR ALL.----EXCESSIVE GREASE ON THE KITCHEN WALLS NEXT TO AND ABOVE THE EXHAUST HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS IN THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
56
78
Nov 13, 2019
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Nov 5, 2019
Routine
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: NOTED OUTSIDE GREASE CONTAINER AND SURROUNDING NOT MAINTAINED WITH THICK GREASE ON THE GROUND AROUND THE GREASE CONTAINER AND ON TOP OF CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN GREASE CONTAINER AND ITS SURROUNDING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(B)
54
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: NOTED OVER 10 LIVE ROACHES ON FLOOR BEHIND AND INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING OF THE CHEST FREEZER IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS, ELIMINATE PEST ACTIVITY. INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT WITH PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND HAVE PREMISES TREATED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A)
38
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: NOTED BULK FOOD ITEMS STORED INSIDE CONTAINERS AT THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP/DRY STORAGE NOT PROPERLY LABELED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH CONTENTS NAME.
37
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: NOTED LEAKING FAUCET AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, ALSO NOTED LEAKING AT THE PIPE UNDER THE HAND SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED WASH ROOMS ON PREMISE WITH GARBAGE RECEPTACLES AND NO LIDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TRASH CANS WITH LIDS AT ALL WOMEN WASH ROOMS AND UNISEX WASH ROOMS.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE INSIDE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT OF THE DEEP FRYER OF GREASE, CRUST AND DIRT BUILD-UP.
55
67
Jul 30, 2018
Routine
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 5 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: FOUND REACH IN COOLER AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES. REACH IN COOLER AT 55.2F. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005.
33
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: FOUND TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES. FOUND 15 POUNDS COOKED BEEF AT 51.2F, 10 POUNDS OF COOKED BEANS AT 63.4F, 5 POUNDS OF COOKED RICE AT 53.4F, AND 5 POUNDS TAMALES AT 52.3F. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MANAGEMENT DISPOSED OF 35 POUNDS OF FOOD. VALUE AT 200 DOLLARS.
22
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: FOUND NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CIATION ISSUED. 7-38-012A. MUST PROVIDE.
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: FOUND NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL PROCEDURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.NO CIATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.
5
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FOUND CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION MANAGER WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE.
58
58
Aug 29, 2017
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE FOIL TO LINE SHELVING ACROSS FROM BAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND ABOVE MAIN KITCHEN PREP COOLER. MUST ELIMINATE STANDING WATER IN BOTTOM OF GLASS 2 DOOR COOLER. OBSERVED THE LEFT COOK LINE MICROWAVE IN POOR REPAIR: NOTED THE WHITE PLASTIC INTERIOR TO BE FLAKING AND CRACKING NEAR THE REAR OF THE UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE MICROWAVE SO THAT ALL SURFACES ARE SMOOTH, DURABLE AND EASILY CLEANABLE. MUST REPAIR LOWEST DRY STORAGE SHELF IN KITCHEN (JUST ABOVE THE WHITE CHEST FREEZER) WHERE THE PAINT HAS WORN OFF, EXPOSING THE UNSEALED WOOD UNDERNEATH.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN FOOD RESIDUE FROM SHELVING IN GLASS COOK LINE COOLER. MUST CLEAN FOOD RESIDUE FROM KNIVES STORED IN KNIFE RACK.
33
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES ABOVE FRONT BAR. MUST REPAIR DAMAGED DRYWALL AND PAINT WHERE THE HINGES OF THE KITCHEN DOORS HIT THE WALL WHEN OPENING/CLOSING.
35
86
Aug 2, 2016
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector notes: FOUND FOOD CONTAINERS NOT STORED PROPERLY. MUST STORE INVERTED.
30
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: FOUND EXHAUST HOOD AT MAIN KITCHEN NOT CLEAN. MUST CLEAN.
32
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: FOUND NO EXPOSED HAND SINK AT FRONT BAR AREAS. MUST PROVIDE.
38
86
Oct 23, 2015
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service
Inspector notes: FOUND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE STORED INSIDE THE TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER WHICH MAINTAIN AIR TEMP OF 39.9F.FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE: COOKED BEEF WITH SAUCE AT TEMP OF 48F TO 49F; GROUND BEEF COOKED WITH SAUCE AND VEGETABLE AT TEMP OF46.5F 48.5F- 50F.AND 51.7F.COOKED CHICKEN WITH SAUCE AT TEMP OF 48.5F TO 50F.COOKED RICE AT TEMP OF 46.7F-48F AND 54.6F.FOOD WITH ABUSED TEMPERATURE DISCARDED AND DENATURED.POUNDS 40,VALUE 200. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
3
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: GREASE BUILD-UP INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF COOKING EQUIPMENT: THE DEEP FRYER,OVENS,PIPES BEHIND THE COOKING EQUIPMENTS AND WHITE MICROWAVE.INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: GREASE ON FLOOR UNDER COKING EQUIPMENTS INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: GREASE ON WALL UNDER AND BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
35
82
Feb 18, 2014
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE CRACK DOOR AT 2-DOOR REFRIGERATOR IN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN SIDES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT REMOVE GREASE BUIL-UP. DETAIL CLEAN INTERIOR OF PREP COOLERS AND FREEZERS.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA IN FRONT OF 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND AT FRONT BAR HALLWAY. MUST REPAIR/REPLACE. MUST REGROUT FLOOR IN FRONT OF REFRIGERATION UNITS INKITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE CRACK SKY LIGHT ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA.
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET HANDLES AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN FOOD PREP AREA. ADDITIONAL WATER PRESSURE IS NEEDED AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND EXPOSED HANDWASH SINK. MUST PROVIDE.
38
78
Feb 19, 2013
Complaint
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: FOUND WALLS NOT SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN BY SHELVING UNITS NEXT TO EXTINGUISHER.
35
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: FOUND BROKEN LIGHT SHIELD INSIDE REACH IN COOLER.
36
90
Mar 19, 2012
Complaint
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT REAR HALLWAY AT WASHROOMS. MUST REPLACE.
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: LEAK ON NOZZLE ON KITCHEN THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPAIR.
38
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE ALL INACCURATE INTERNAL THERMOMETERS IN ALL COOLERS.
40
86
Mar 29, 2010
Complaint
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR/EXTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVES AND THE 1 DOOR PREP COOLER.
33
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE LEAKS UNDERNEATH THE BAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPAIR ALL LEAKS.
38
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Mariachi Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Mariachi Restaurant on file is from Jun 11, 2025. The public record contains 15 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Mariachi Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited seven times, more than any other issue at El Mariachi Restaurant.
Has El Mariachi Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Mariachi Restaurant have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at El Mariachi Restaurant 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 Mariachi Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Mariachi Restaurant is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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