El Paiza Restaurant

4781 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Dec 5, 2025
70
Score
Medium Risk

Inspectors have visited El Paiza Restaurant four times, with records going back to 2023. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 5, 2025. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around four violations to closer to six violations.

“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing four times across the record.

Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 5, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN FOOD PREP AREA WITH A BUILD-UP OF BLACK SUBSTANCE ALONG THE CHUTE AND AT THE INTERIOR PLATE ABOVE THE ICE INSIDE OF ICE BIN. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED
16
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A TIGHT-FITTING SEAL AT ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS.
38
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRY FOOD ITEMS IN THE KITCHEN AREA NEAR THE GRILL COVERED/STORED USING ALUMINUM FOIL. INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND/OR CONTAINERS.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A DRAIN LINE/HOSE FROM ICE MACHINE IMPROPERLY DRAINING INTO HAND WASH SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY ROUTE DRAIN LINE INTO CITY PLUMBING AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MOP STORED/DRYING IMPROPERLY IN KITCHEN AREA. INSTRUCTED TO STORE/DRY MOP WITH MOPHEAD IN MOUNTED POSITION THAT ALLOWS FOR AIR-DRYING WITHOUT SOILING AND PEST HARBORAGING.
55
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
37
70
May 20, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 1/2IN GAP AT BOTTOM OF EXTERIOR DOOR LOCATED IN REAR DINING ROOM. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
38
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED WALL BEHIND SINK IN WOMEN'S RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE FOR REVIEW.
58
86
May 23, 2023
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: 3-307.11-MISSING SPLASHGUARD INBETWEEN UTILITY SINK AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-202.16- ALUMINUM FOIL ON STORAGE SHELVES WITH RUSTY SURFACE UNDERNEATH. INSTD TO REMOVE FOIL AND RUST SO AS SURFACE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12- MISSING BACKFLOW DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SAME
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11-RAW, UNSEALED CONCRETE FLOOR THROUGH OUT PREP AREA AND WAREWASHING AREA. INSTD TO SEAL/FINISH CONCRETE SO AS TO BE NON-POROUS AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
82
May 16, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PEST ACTIVITY WITH APPROXIMATELY 10 LIVE COCKROACHES ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH AND BEHIND REAR DEEP FREEZER. INSTD TO REMOVE ROACHES, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND CONTACT PEST CONTROL FOR SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MISSING SPLASHGUARD INBETWEEN UTILITY SINK AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: ALUMINUM FOIL ON STORAGE SHELVES WITH RUSTY SURFACE UNDERNEATH. INSTD TO REMOVE FOIL AND RUST SO AS SURFACE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: MISSING PREP/DUMP SINK ON SITE. INSTD TO INSTALL SAME WITH HOT COLD/RUNNING WATER.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: MISSING BACKFLOW DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SAME.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: RAW, UNSEALED CONCRETE FLOOR THROUGH OUT PREP AREA AND WAREWASHING AREA. INSTD TO SEAL/FINISH CONCRETE SO AS TO BE NON POROUS AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
70

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Paiza Restaurant last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Paiza Restaurant on file is from Dec 5, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Paiza Restaurant?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at El Paiza Restaurant.

Has El Paiza Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at El Paiza Restaurant have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at El Paiza Restaurant means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is El Paiza Restaurant inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Paiza Restaurant is inspected around two times per year on average.