Hot Tamales

3412 W 79Th St, Chicago, IL 60652
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Jan 19, 2018
74
Score
Medium Risk

Going back to 2017, Hot Tamales has three inspections in the public record. On Jan 19, 2018, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe. Public records show no inspections at Hot Tamales since Jan 19, 2018, so this file may not reflect current conditions.

Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around six violations per visit lately, up from roughly four violations before.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean”, showing up two times.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Hot Tamales trails the local norm. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.

3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 19, 2018
Non-Inspection
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING INTERIOR NOT CLEAN, MICROWAVE, WHITE UPRIGHT FREEZER, AND BOX FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN. ALSO UNDER AND AROUND EQUIPMENT.
34
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN POOR REPAIR, ONE SIDE FALLING OFF WALL, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STOCK NOT ELEVATED 6" OFF THE STORAGE AREA FLOOR(CORN HUSK), INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE 6" OFF THE FLOOR.
41
Only authorized personnel in the food-prep area
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FRONT ENTRANCE WAY OPEN TO REAR PREP AREA, ANY CUSTOMER CAN WALK BACK TO PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL DOOR/GATE SO ONLY EMPLOYEES CAN ENTER THIS FRONT PREP AREA.
44
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET, ONE WOMEN PREPARING FOOD NO CERTIFICATE, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
45
74
Jan 11, 2018
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
* certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED AT THIS TIME, NOR MANAGER ON PREMISES AT THIS TIME, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-012a.
21
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING INTERIOR NOT CLEAN, MICROWAVE, WHITE UPRIGHT FREEZER, AND BOX FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALSO UNDER AND AROUND EQUIPMENT.
34
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN POOR REPAIR ONE SIDE FALLING OFF WALL, INSTRUCTED TO REATTACH TO WALL.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STOCK NOT ELEVATED 6" OFF THE STORAGE AREA FLOOR (CORN HUSK), INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE 6" OFF THE FLOOR.
41
Only authorized personnel in the food-prep area
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FRONT ENTRANCE WAY OPEN TO REAR PREP AREA, ANY CUSTOMER CAN WALK BACK TO PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A DOOR/GATE SO ONLY EMPLOYEES CAN ENTER THIS FRONT PREP AREA.
44
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET, ONE WOMEN PREPARING FOOD, NO CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
45
70
Mar 24, 2017
License
No violations found.
100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Hot Tamales last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Hot Tamales on file is from Jan 19, 2018. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Hot Tamales?

Across the inspection record, “food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Hot Tamales.

Has Hot Tamales' inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Hot Tamales have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Hot Tamales means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.