El Pollo Bravo

4105 W 26Th St, Chicago, IL 60623

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Oct 30, 2025

Score

Low Risk

The health department has logged four inspections at El Pollo Bravo, the earliest from 2022. The most recent report on file is from Oct 30, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around two violations, down from roughly four violations earlier in the record.

“Non-food/food contact surfaces clean” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so El Pollo Bravo is doing better than most peers. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Oct 30, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEEP FREEZER IN THE REAR STORAGE WITH ICE BUILD UP. MUST DEFROST AND CLEAN.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE FILTERS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE DEBRIS.

Dec 5, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA. WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM THE 2ND SINK BASIN, WATER BACKS UP INTO THE 1ST AND 3RD SINK BASINS. THE PLUMBER REPAIRED THE SINK DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.

Aug 1, 2023

Routine

2 major violations. 5 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Proper date marking and disposition

Inspector notes: OBSERVED TCS FOODS (COOKED RICE, GRILLED CHICKEN, SOUP) HELD FOR OVER 24 HOURS WITH OUT DISCARD DATES. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE DISCARD DATE FOR ANY TCS FOODS HELD FOR OVER 24 HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY WITHOUT A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED ONSITE FOR FOOD EMPLOYEES. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE CITY OF CHICAGO ORIGINAL FOOD SERVICE CERTIFICATE MUST BE POSTED ALONG WITH THE CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE WHEN TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY(TCS) FOODS ARE STORED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON SHELVING UNITS IN PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD FROM SHELVING UNITS. ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, PREP TABLES, COOLERS, FREEZERS, SHELVING UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEBRIS ON FLOORS ALONG WALLS AND CORNERS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE BURNT OUT LIGHT BULB. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

May 23, 2022

License

1 major violation. 4 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILTY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED AT THE BOTTOM; MUST CORRECT. AND REAR GARAGE DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED IN THE LEFT AND RIGHT CORNER AREAS OF THE DOOR; MUST CORRECT.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: NO SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON WASHROOM DOORS; MUST INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WALL COVING MISSING FROM THE REAR GARAGE AREA ALONG THE WALL BASE; PROVIDE WALL COVING WHERE NEEDED.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Pollo Bravo last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Pollo Bravo on file is from Oct 30, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Pollo Bravo?

Across the inspection record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Pollo Bravo.

Has El Pollo Bravo's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at El Pollo Bravo have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at El Pollo Bravo 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 Pollo Bravo inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Pollo Bravo is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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