Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano

4064 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Feb 9, 2026

Score

Medium Risk

The inspection history at Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano is still short, with only two visits logged. On Feb 9, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around one violation to closer to 10 violations.

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

The city-wide average sits at 81, which Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano's 58 doesn't quite reach. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 9, 2026

Routine

1 major violation. 9 minor violations.

View 10 violations

Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 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 NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS REPARED AND SERVED.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES AND HANDWASHING SINK. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS OF THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FROZEN FOOD ITEMS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS INSIDE CHEST FREEZER AND UPRIGHT FREEZER LOCATED IN REAR KITCHEN FOD PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE/USE PROPER FOOD GRADE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS IN THE UTILITY ROOM. MUST REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES ABOVE UTILITY MOP SINK IN REAR CLOSET. MUST REPAIR/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES PERSONAL ITEMS STORED BEING STORED IN REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST PROVIDE DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES STORAGE NOT IN FOOD STORAGE AREA OR PREP AREA.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES ON SITE FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Apr 16, 2025

License

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano on file is from Feb 9, 2026. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano.

Has Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Pupuseria Y Restaurant El Centro Americano means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

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