El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin
Last inspected: Jan 22, 2026
61
Score
El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin has been inspected four times since 2025. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 22, 2026. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around 10 violations lately compared to roughly four violations before.
“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing five times across the record.
El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin's latest score of 61 falls below the Chicago average of 81. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
10
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 22, 2026
Routine
10 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRAINPIPE LEAKING UNDER HAND WASHING SINK IN CUSTOMER WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING, STORAGE AND BASEMENT AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED HOLE IN CEILING, BROKEN DUCKBOARDS, BASEBOARDS, CRACKS, ETC TRHOUGHOUT BASEMENT INSTRUCTED SEAL AND REPAIR ALL STRUCTURAL DAMAGES TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED VENTILLATION SYSTEM IN PREP AREA WITH EXCESS RUST AND PEELING PAINT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PAINT/REPAIR VENTILLATION SYSTEM IN MAIN PREP ARA.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 1 CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSONS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLETION OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.
58
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD STORED IN CONTAINERS IN ALL THE COOLERS AND DRY STORAGE WITHOUT PROPER LABELING OF NAME. INSTRUCTED TO PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A LABEL REFLECTING THE FOOD ITEM'S NAME WHEN FOOD HAS BEEN REMOVE FROM ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS AND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE PREP AREA, UNDER THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK, AND THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. 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.
39
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE SCOOPER BEING STORED INSIDE OF ICE WITH HANDLE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ICE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND ON HOW TO PROPERLY STORE ICE SCOOP BETWEEN USES.
43
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD IN THE PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
47
61
Feb 5, 2025
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED, UNNECSSARY EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.
57
90
Feb 4, 2025
Reinspection
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE TRAP AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK TO BE LEAKING CAUSING WASTE WATER TO DRAIN ONTO FOOD PREP AREA FLOOR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY #7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED
52
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: FOUND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT NOT MAINTAINED; SINK IS SLOW DRAINING. WHEN WATER FROM ONE COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED; WATER BACKS UP INTO ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS AND ALSO LEAKING ON FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO GET DRAINAGE SYSTEM SERVICED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025. NO CITATION ISSUED.
48
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED, UNNECSSARY EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE BURNT OUT LIGHT BULB IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.
57
67
Feb 3, 2025
License
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE TRAP AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK TO BE LEAKING CAUSING WASTE WATER TO DRAIN ONTO FOOD PREP AREA FLOOR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY #7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED
52
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: FOUND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT NOT MAINTAINED; SINK IS SLOW DRAINING. WHEN WATER FROM ONE COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED; WATER BACKS UP INTO ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO GET DRAINAGE SYSTEM SERVICED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025. NO CITATION ISSUED.
48
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WASHROOM DOOR IN BASEMENT NOT SELF-CLOSING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON WASHROOM DOOR.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED, UNNECSSARY EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE BURNT OUT LIGHT BULB IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.
57
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin on file is from Jan 22, 2026. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin.
Has El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at El Pollo Cris Cris Cragin means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
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