El Tragon Taqueria
Last inspected: Aug 25, 2025
70
Score
Inspectors have visited El Tragon Taqueria eight times, with records going back to 2021. The latest inspection on file is from Aug 25, 2025. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near two violations each time.
Across the inspection history, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.
Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so El Tragon Taqueria trails the local norm. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
8
Inspections
1
Critical latest
1
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 25, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
No bare hand contact with rte food or a pre-approved alternative procedure properly allowed
Inspector notes: Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Observed food handlers grabbing lettuce, tomatoes, bread, cheese with bare hands when assembling Tacos and other food items. Instructed manager not to handle such foods with bare hands. Priority violation 7-38-010.
9
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: No paper towels, no hand drying provisions provided to prep area/ dish room hand wash sinks, Instructed to provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c)
10
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Food handler not wearing hair restraints, Instructed to wear.
40
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: Deli cups not air dried after washing, Instructed to air dry all multi-use utensils after washing.
44
70
Oct 23, 2024
Complaint
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE GREASE ON THE WALLS OF THE FOOD PREP AREA.
55
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE BOTTOM SHELVES OF THE PREP TABLES AND INTERIOR OF THE CHEST FREEZER.
49
90
Feb 27, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: REMOVE THE HANGING FLY TRAPS IN THE REAR FOOD PREP/DISH WASHING AREA.
39
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN AND DEFROST THE INTERIOR OF THE CHEST FREEZER.
49
90
Jun 9, 2023
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Summary report displayed and visible to the public
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SUMMARY POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW FROM PREVIOUS INSPECTION #2552733 DATED 3/10/2022. LEFT NEW SUMMARY AND INSTRUCTED TO POST FOR PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.
61
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF BROWN AND PINK SLIME IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE USED TO PRODUCE ICE FOR HUMANS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, DETAIL CLEAN, SANITIZE, AND MAINTAIN GOOD CONDITION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
16
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON 3-DOOR PREP COOLER LOCATED OPPOSITE COOK LINE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOSE FROM ICE MACHINE DRAINS INTO EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT.
51
74
Mar 10, 2022
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 2, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PH TEST STRIPS ON SITE FOR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE QUATERNARY AMMONIUM STRIPS FOR QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SANITIZING SOLUTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
48
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS (CUPS, CONTAINERS) STORED INSIDE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND STORE IN DIFFERENT PLACE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
39
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS INSIDE WALK IN COOLER NOT LABELED WITH COMMON NAMES OF FOOD ITEMS. MUST LABEL ALL FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE NOT INSIDE ORIGINAL PACKAGINING.
37
82
Sep 17, 2021
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
58
95
Sep 15, 2021
License
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: FOUND WASTE WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT WHEN THE WATER IS RELEASED FROM MIDDLE COMPARTMENT, WATER BACKS UP INTO FIRST AND THIRD COMPARTMENT OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND WATER SLOWLY DRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING ISSUE AND TO MAINTAIN.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030
52
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURE ON THE PREMISES FOR VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CLEAN UP PROCEDURE ON THE PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
5
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER STATEMENT ON THE MENU. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE WHICH FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED AND LINK THOSE FOODS TO A REMINDER STATEMENT THAT STATES THAT EATING RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
25
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: MISSING FOOD TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE(METAL STEM THERMOMETER).INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE STEM THERMOMETER TO MONITOR FOOD TEMPERATURES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
36
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY THAT INCLUDES A SIGNED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
3
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXTREMILY SLOW DRAINING AT THE HAND WASHING SINKS LOCATED IN FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. MUST REPAIR SLOW LEAK AT THE HAND WASHING SINK LOCATED IN FRONT PREPARATION AREA.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACK FLOW PREVENTOR DEVICE FOR THE ICE MACHINE. A BACKFLOW PREVENTOR DEVICE MUST BE LOCATED SO THAT CAN BE SERVICE AND MAINTAIN.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE PROVIDED IN THE UNISEX WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
53
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
58
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was El Tragon Taqueria last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at El Tragon Taqueria on file is from Aug 25, 2025. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at El Tragon Taqueria?
Across the inspection record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at El Tragon Taqueria.
Has El Tragon Taqueria's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at El Tragon Taqueria have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at El Tragon Taqueria 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 Tragon Taqueria inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, El Tragon Taqueria is inspected around two times per year on average.
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