Taco Bell Cantina

5245 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Jan 26, 2026

Score

Low Risk

The health department has logged four inspections at Taco Bell Cantina, the earliest from 2024. The most recent visit was on Jan 26, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.

Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around two violations lately and about four violations before that.

The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited three times.

Taco Bell Cantina's latest score is in line with the Chicago average of 81. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 26, 2026

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: NOTED NO HOT RUNNING WATER AT THE HAND WASHING SINKS OF THE PREP AREA. HOT WATER TEMPERATURE OF SINKS WERE 84.2F/91F. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C).

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

Inspector notes: NOTED TORN RUBBER GASKET AT THE BOTTOM DOOR OF THE WALK IN FREEZER AT THE BASMEMENT FOOD DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AND/OR REPLACE.

Feb 14, 2025

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

All food employees have food handler training

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

Feb 7, 2025

Routine

2 major violations. 5 minor violations.

View 7 violations

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

Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE VERIFIED WRITTEN HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. BUSINESS HAS BLANK, UNVERIFIED HEALTH POLICIES. MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN HEALTH POLICY VERIFIED BY ALL EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #2592224 ON 4-5-24 NOT CORRECTED. #39-3-305.11--- OBSERVED WASTE LINES IN BASEMENT STORAGE NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED TO PROTECT FROM LEAKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO NOT STORE ANY FOOD, EQUIPMENT, OR SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS BELOW WASTE LINES. #53- 5-501.17-- OBSERVED NO LID ON TRASH RECEPTACLES IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE RECEPTACLE WITH LID IN EACH TOILET ROOM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: NOTED A DIRTY FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THE SODA DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

All food employees have food handler training

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

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING OR CERTIFICATE FOR THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE.

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector notes: NOTED A NON-FUNCTIONAL EXTERNAL THERMOMETER FOR THE WALK-IN COOLER AND NO INTERNAL THERMOMETER IN THE COOLER. MUST REPAIR THE EXTERNAL THERMOMETER OR PROVIDE AN ACCURATE INTERNAL THERMOMETER FOR THE WALK-IN COOLER.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: UNUSED TALL REACH-IN COOLER IN THE BASEMENT MUST BE REPAIRED/FUNCTIONAL OR REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES.

Apr 5, 2024

License

1 major violation. 4 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS CLEAN UP KIT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE PROCEDURE/SPILL KIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO THERMOMETERS PRESENT IN REACH IN AND STANDING COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A THERMOMETER IN EACH COLD HOLDING UNIT.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WASTE LINES IN BASEMENT STORAGE NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED TO PROTECT FROM LEAKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO NOT STORE ANY FOOD, EQUIPMENT, OR SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS BELOW WASTE LINES.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO LID ON TRASH RECEPTACLES IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS. INTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE RECEPTACLE WITH LID IN EACH TOILET ROOM.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEBRIS BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR IN THE ELECTRICAL ROOM OFF THE BACK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AREA FREE OF DEBRIS. COS.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Taco Bell Cantina last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Taco Bell Cantina on file is from Jan 26, 2026. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Taco Bell Cantina?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Taco Bell Cantina.

Has Taco Bell Cantina's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Taco Bell Cantina have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Taco Bell Cantina 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 Taco Bell Cantina inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Taco Bell Cantina is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 74 — Medium Risk

Ericksons Delicatessen

5250 N Clark St

Score: 61 — Medium Risk

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