Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2

5204 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Jul 25, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Going back to 2023, Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 has five inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Jul 25, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.

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

The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up three times.

Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 is comfortably above that bar. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jul 25, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD AT THE PREP LINE WITH OPEN SEAMS AND STAINS. MUST REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WET MOP STORED IN THE BUCKET IN THE HALLWAY LEADING TO BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO HANG MOPS IN UTILITY AREA TO ALLOW TO DRY WHEN NOT IN USE.

Nov 6, 2024

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Oct 29, 2024

Routine

3 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT# 2576610 ISSUED ON 06-01-2023 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #37 - OBSERVED BULK FOOD CONTAINERS ON SHELVING UNIT WITH NO LABELS IN REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE LABELS WITH FOOD NAMES ON ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING AND MAINTAIN. #51 - OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: FOUND NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS (MEXICAN RICE, REFRIED BEANS, TACOS, BURRITOS ETC) ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE, A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES THAT TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY (TCS) FOOD IS BEING HANDLED. (CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ARRIVED 45 MINUTES LATER) PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE BOXES 6" OFF THE FLOOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE WITH MINIMAL MINERAL DEPOSITS IN FRONT PREP AREA.

Jun 1, 2023

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK FOOD CONTAINERS ON SHELVING UNIT WITH NO LABELS IN REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE LABELS WITH FOOD NAMES ON ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: 5-204.12 OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPOSED BRICK WALLS IN THE FRONT PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO SEAL THE EXPOSED BRICK WALL TO ENSURE A SMOOTH, NONABSORBENT, AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.

Mar 7, 2023

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE UTILITY SINK LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOME DIRT ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS AND MAINTAIN THEM.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 on file is from Jul 25, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2.

Has Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 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 Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Penelope's Vegan Taqueria #2 is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Polygon Cafe

5204 N Clark St

Score: 52 — High Risk

Score: 70 — Medium Risk

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→ All locations in Chicago → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Chicago