El Pollo Real
Last inspected: Nov 20, 2025
82
Score
El Pollo Real appears in inspection records 11 times, starting in 2017. The newest entry in the record is dated Nov 20, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near three violations per visit across recent inspections.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited five times.
Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, this is about average. The record reflects steady performance over time.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 20, 2025
Complaint
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS INSIDE DISPLAY COOLERS AND PREP AREA COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF EQUIPMENT.
36
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON PREP SURFACE AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE BETWEEN USAGE.
41
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CHICKEN IN 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR/COOLER AND FROZEN CHICKEN STORED IN FREEZER UNITS STORED IN PLASTIC STORAGE TOTES. INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND/OR CONTAINERS ONLY.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET AT HAND WASH SINK IN THE DISH WASH AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT/REPAIR.
51
82
Apr 4, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: SMALL LEAK AT PIPE IN BASEMENT. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: MISSING COVER FOR TRASH RECEPTACLE IN TOILET ROOM. INSTD TO PROVIDE COVER AND MAINTAIN
53
90
Jun 12, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: PREP TABLE IN BASEMENT. INSTD TO REMOVE FROM BASEMENT.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: PLASTIC LINING ON WALLS IN BASEMENT AND SURROUNDING AREA. INSTD TO REMOVE PLASTIC LINING AND MAINTAIN WALLS, SMOOTH, EVEN AND EASILY CLEANABLE
55
90
Aug 18, 2023
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 11, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE TEST KIT FOR PROPER CONCENTRATION IN SANITIZING SOLUTIONS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
48
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED IN PREP AREA AND STORED ON FLOOR IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT AND ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TOWEL BEING USED AS STOPPER INSIDE 3-COMPARMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STOPPERS AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COOKED RICE STORED INSIDE GROCERY BAG IN FRONT PREP COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE IN FOOD BAGS OR CONTAINERS.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING DRAINPIPE ON HAND WASHING SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
74
May 4, 2022
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
45
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER AT UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
86
Apr 13, 2022
Complaint
2 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREP COOLER NOT MAINTAINING PROPER TEMPERATURE 61.3F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN COOLER AT 41F OR BELOW. PREP COOLER IS TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTION AND MUST NOT BE USED UNTIL REINSPECTED BY CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. PRIORITY 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
33
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DICED TOMATOES 59.1F, SOUR CREAM 55.8F, EGGS 55F STORED AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE IN PREP COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DISCARD. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY AND SERVICE. PRIORITY 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
22
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
45
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER AT UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
64
Jul 2, 2021
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOOR IN BASEMENT IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE WATER ON FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
95
Nov 18, 2020
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: LIGHT OUT IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTD TO PROVIDE LIGHT AND MAINTAIN
56
95
Jun 4, 2019
Routine
3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROCEDURES OR 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 AND SHREDDED LETTUCE NOT LABELED AND DATED IN COOLERS. ALL REFRGERATED TCS FOOD HELD MORE THAN 24 HOURS MUST BE LABELED AND DATED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
23
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
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE CONTAINERS STORED ON FLOOR IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
45
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNFINISHED CEILING ABOVE SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR CEILING TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED VENTILATION FAN COVER MISSING IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO LIGHTING INSIDE DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING IN DRY STORAGE AREA.
56
61
Oct 6, 2017
License
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Pollo Real last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Pollo Real on file is from Nov 20, 2025. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Pollo Real?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at El Pollo Real.
Has El Pollo Real's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Pollo Real have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at El Pollo Real 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 Real inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Pollo Real is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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