El Salserin

1943 W 51St St, Chicago, IL 60609

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Jul 25, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Public records show four inspections at El Salserin stretching back to 2023. The most recent visit was on Jul 25, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

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

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

El Salserin's latest score of 95 sits above the Chicago average of 81. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jul 25, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Approved thawing methods used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED INTESTINES INSIDE BOWL THAWING IMPROPERLY INSIDE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO THAW UNDER REFRIGERATION OR UNDER RUNNING WATER AND MAINTAIN.

Jul 10, 2024

Routine

6 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: NOTED DIRTY WIPING CLOTHS ON PREP TABLES AT FRONT AND REAR PREP AREAS. NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED PROPERLY TO STORE ALL WASHCLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION ESPECIALLY WHEN NOT IN USE.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD IN FONT PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. MUST REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS.

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

Inspector notes: NOTED ASSORTED FOOD ITEMS INSIDE FREEZERS UNITS STORED INSIDE NON FOOD GRADE BAGS. INSTRUCTED PROPERLY TO STORE ALL FOOD ITEMS INSIDE APPROVED FOOD GRADE BAGS OR CONTAINERS.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP ON COOKING EQUIPMENT, WALLS, SURROUNDING FLOORS AND SHELVING UNITS IN THE FRONT PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO DEGREASE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: NOTED CLUTTER OF EQUIPMENT AND OTHER UNUSED ITEMS ON FLOORS IN STORAGE ROOMS.MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS TO ALLOW CLEANING AND REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: NOTED THE FOLLOWING:FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREMISE ESPECIALLY ALONG WITH WALL BASE AND UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT WITH DIRT, GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE. MUST UPGRADE HOUSEKEEPING.

Jun 22, 2023

Reinspection

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: 5-204.12-OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE ON THE NEWLY INSTALLED UTILITY SINK IN REAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO ENSURE DEVICE CAN BE LOCATED, SERVICED, AND MAINTAINED.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: 6-202.11- OBSERVED LIGHTING IN REAR PREP/DISHWASH AREA WITHOUT PROTECTIVE SHIELDING AT LIGHT FIXTURES. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

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.

Jun 14, 2023

License

1 major violation. 6 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF RODENT ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 20 RAT DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT FURNACE/BOILER CLOSET AND ALONG THE NORTH WALL OF THE BASEMENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A).

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINK AND DRAINBOARD OF 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST INSTALL A WASHABLE SPLASHGUARD.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE ON THE NEWLY INSTALLED UTILITY SINK IN REAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO ENSURE DEVICE CAN BE LOCATED, SERVICED, AND MAINTAINED.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMENS RESTROOM.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: STRONG, PUNGENT ODOR IN BASEMENT THROUGH OUT. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE ODOR, CLEAN AND SANITIZE THROUGH OUT.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LIGHTING IN REAR PREP/DISHWASH AREA WITHOUT PROTECTIVE SHIELDING AT LIGHT FIXTURES. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Salserin last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Salserin on file is from Jul 25, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Salserin?

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

Has El Salserin's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at El Salserin have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at El Salserin 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 Salserin inspected?

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

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