La Serpiente Emplumada

5505 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Nov 4, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Across the available record, La Serpiente Emplumada has five inspections on file, the first dated 2022. Inspectors last stopped by on Nov 4, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around four violations each.

Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged six times.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so La Serpiente Emplumada trails the local norm. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Nov 4, 2025

Routine

5 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF THE HAND SINK AND THE ONE COMPARTMENT PREP SINK NOTED DIRTY. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.----MUST NOT USE TINFOIL AS LINER FOR SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: NOTED DIRTY STOVE BACKSPLASH. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK DIRTY. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.-----MISSING FLOOR TILE IN THE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT MUST BE REMOVED AND ALL OTHER NEEDED ITEMS STORED ELEVATED AND ORGANIZED.

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

Inspector notes: TORN RUBBER DOOR GASKETS ON THE TALL TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.

Dec 10, 2024

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: 2-102.13--OBSERVED NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES.MUST PROVIDE.

Dec 3, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 6 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT# 2587327 ON 12/21/2023. #53. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF-CLOSING. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING MECHANISM FOR THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM DOOR AND MAINTAIN. #55. OBSERVED DIRTY FLOOR DRAIN UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA.ALSO OBSERVED DIRT BUILDUP IN ALL CORNERS OF FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN FLOOR DRAIN AND IN ALL CORNERS OF THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: MUST PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE PREPARING AND SERVING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESS ICE BUILD UP INSIDE ICE BOX CHEST FREEZER IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REMOVE ICE AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DUST BUILD UP INSIDE LIGHT SHIELDS COVERS THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES/CLUTTER IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.

Dec 21, 2023

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO THERMOMETER CONSPICUOUSLY PLACED IN REACH-IN COOLER IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE THERMOMETERS FOR ALL COLD HOLDING EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF-CLOSING. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING MECHANISM FOR THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRTY FLOOR DRAIN UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA ---ALSO OBSERVED DIRT BUILDUP IN ALL CORNERS OF FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN FLOOR DRAIN AND IN ALL CORNERS OF THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTAIN.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM LOCATED IN THE REAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

Sep 8, 2022

License

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO SEAL/PAINT RAW WOOD ABOVE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES/CLUTTER IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE MECHANICAL VENTILATION INSIDE WASHROOM.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was La Serpiente Emplumada last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at La Serpiente Emplumada on file is from Nov 4, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at La Serpiente Emplumada?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at La Serpiente Emplumada.

Has La Serpiente Emplumada's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at La Serpiente Emplumada have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at La Serpiente Emplumada 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 La Serpiente Emplumada inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, La Serpiente Emplumada is inspected around two times per year on average.

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