Taco Bell

3509 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60634

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Feb 20, 2026

100

Score

Low Risk

Going back to 2021, Taco Bell has seven inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Feb 20, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.

Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around two violations each.

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

That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. The record reflects steady performance over time.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 20, 2026

Routine

No violations found.

100

Apr 18, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SPILLS ON FLOOR UNDER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINOR DUST BUILD UP ON FANS IN WALK IN COOLER. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Dec 30, 2024

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRIVE-THROUGH PREP HANDWASHING SINK TO BE SLOW DRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLUTTER STORED ON FLOOR REAR WAREWASHING AREA AND UNDER THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: NOTED HEAVY DIRT AND GREASE ACCUMULATION ON PIPES AND ON VENTS OF THE EXHAUST HOOD AND FILTERS ON COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN HOODS, FILTERS AND PIPES.

Apr 1, 2024

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLOW DRAINING HANDWSHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA NEAR DRIVE THROUGH FOUNTAIN MACHINE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SO THAT THE SINK DRAINS PROPERLY.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRTY FLOOR DRAINS UNDERNEATH FOUNTAINS MACHINES IN THE FRONT SEATING AREA AND IN DRIVE THROUGH AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOOR DRAINS AND MAINTAIN.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE CERTIFIED FOOD SEFVICE MANAGERES WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATES AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ESNURE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON THE PREMISES AT ALL TIMES.

Apr 27, 2023

Routine

1 major violation. 5 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2563647 DATED: 09/14/2022 #58--FOUND SANITATION MANAGERS WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE. ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-42-090,CITATION ISSUED.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING PIPE AT BASE OF HANDSINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON VENT ABOVE MONITORS IN DRIVE THRU AND FILTER ON THE SIDE OF THE SLUSHIE MACHINE, UPRIGHT WARMER NEXT TO ONE COMPARTMENT SINK HAS AN ACCUMULATION OF DUST ON FILTER AND OUTSIDE SURFACE, SMALL TWO DOOR COOLER HAS AN BUILDUP ON VENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILDUP ON FLOOR SURROUNDING HOT WATER HEATER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEBRIS UNDERNEATH COUNTERS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR DRAINS UNDERNEATH FRONT AND DRIVE THRU FOUNTAIN MACHINES WITH BUILDUP IN INTERIOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Sep 14, 2022

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: FOUND SANITATION MANAGERS WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE.

Dec 13, 2021

License

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: CLEAN THE WALL NEXT TO THE STEAMER UNIT. CLEAN THE FLOOR BENEATH THE STEAMER UNIT.

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Taco Bell last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Taco Bell on file is from Feb 20, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Taco Bell?

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

Has Taco Bell's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Taco Bell have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Taco Bell 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 inspected?

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

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 67 — Medium Risk

Mc Donald's #5697

3540 N Harlem Ave

Score: 82 — Low Risk

Explore More

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