Taqueria El Ranchito
Last inspected: Jan 6, 2026
41
Score
TAQUERIA EL RANCHITO, located at 2829 N Milwaukee Ave in Chicago, IL, had a high-risk inspection on January 6, 2026, with a score of 41. This inspection noted one major and sixteen minor violations, including issues with date marking, labeling, and personal cleanliness. Historically, TAQUERIA EL RANCHITO has predominantly received medium-risk ratings across its 68 recorded inspections.
68
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
16
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 6, 2026
Routine
1 major violation. 16 minor violations.
41
Feb 20, 2025
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
90
Feb 6, 2025
Complaint
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
67
Aug 12, 2024
Complaint
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
67
Nov 29, 2023
Complaint
11 minor violations.
58
Oct 3, 2023
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
82
Sep 26, 2023
Complaint
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
58
Sep 11, 2023
Complaint
1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
55
Jul 19, 2023
Reinspection
15 minor violations.
47
Jul 10, 2023
Complaint
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 15 minor violations.
29
Feb 10, 2023
Reinspection
7 minor violations.
70
Feb 8, 2023
Complaint
1 critical violation. 14 minor violations.
43
Apr 1, 2022
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 30, 2022
Reinspection
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 12 minor violations.
43
Mar 23, 2022
Complaint
1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
61
Mar 10, 2022
Complaint
5 minor violations.
78
Jan 18, 2022
Reinspection
8 minor violations.
67
Jan 11, 2022
Complaint
2 major violations. 19 minor violations.
32
Jun 22, 2021
Reinspection
1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
61
Jun 21, 2021
Complaint
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 8 minor violations.
37
Jan 12, 2021
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Jan 5, 2021
Complaint
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
61
Aug 12, 2020
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
82
Aug 4, 2020
Routine
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 10 minor violations.
33
Aug 6, 2019
Routine
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
61
Dec 4, 2018
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Nov 16, 2018
Complaint
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
86
Jul 3, 2018
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Jun 21, 2018
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Mar 2, 2018
Complaint
4 minor violations.
82
Feb 2, 2018
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
86
Feb 1, 2018
Routine
6 minor violations.
74
May 30, 2017
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
95
May 22, 2017
Complaint
4 minor violations.
82
Oct 27, 2016
Complaint
5 minor violations.
78
Feb 16, 2016
Complaint
7 minor violations.
70
Nov 19, 2015
Complaint
No violations found.
100
Jul 30, 2015
Recent Inspection
6 minor violations.
74
Jul 20, 2015
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Apr 30, 2015
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Apr 21, 2015
Suspected Food Poisoning
14 minor violations.
50
Mar 5, 2015
Reinspection
8 minor violations.
67
Feb 23, 2015
Complaint
10 minor violations.
61
Jan 27, 2015
Routine
12 minor violations.
55
Aug 14, 2014
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
90
Aug 7, 2014
Complaint
9 minor violations.
64
Mar 20, 2014
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
90
Mar 13, 2014
Complaint
3 minor violations.
86
Nov 8, 2013
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Oct 22, 2013
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Jul 17, 2013
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Feb 20, 2013
Routine
8 minor violations.
67
Dec 18, 2012
Complaint
No violations found.
100
Jul 3, 2012
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
90
Jun 26, 2012
Complaint
7 minor violations.
70
Mar 20, 2012
Complaint
3 minor violations.
86
Jan 24, 2012
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Jan 5, 2012
Complaint
7 minor violations.
70
Nov 30, 2011
Complaint
8 minor violations.
67
Aug 5, 2011
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 4, 2011
Reinspection
9 minor violations.
64
Aug 2, 2011
Reinspection
16 minor violations.
45
Jul 26, 2011
Complaint
15 minor violations.
47
Jan 18, 2011
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
82
Jan 11, 2011
Complaint
10 minor violations.
61
Jul 29, 2010
Complaint
6 minor violations.
74
Mar 15, 2010
Complaint
9 minor violations.
64
Jan 19, 2010
Suspected Food Poisoning
5 minor violations.
78
Violations — Jan 6, 2026 Inspection
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED READY TO EAT, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (BEANS, RICE, CHICKEN SOUP, BEEF). NOT PROPERLY DATED, STORED LONGER THAN 24 HOURS INSIDE WALK-INCOOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER DATE MARKING WITH DISPOSITION DATE FOR RTE FOODS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD OVER 24HOURS IN COLD HOLDING UNITS. REVIEWED PROPER DATE LABELING OF PREPARED TCS FOODS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
23
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE COTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER. MUST LABEL WITH THE COMMON NAME AT ALL TIMES.
37
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES PREPARING AND SERVING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.
40
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TIN FOIL ON BOTTOM OF PREP TABLES IN KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE ALL SURFACES TO BE NON-CORROSIVE, SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES. OBSERVED RUSTY BOTTOM OF FOOD PREP TABLES IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAINT/REFINISH TO REMOVE DUST AND PROVIDE A NON-CORROSIVE SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS IN REAR PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEEMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FROZEN FOOD ITEMS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS INSIDE CHEST FREEZERS IN MAIN KITCHEND FOOD PREP AREA AND BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE USE PROPER FOOD GRADE BAGS OR CONTAINERS ONLY.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED DOOR GASKET AT THE 2-DOOR TALL REFRIGERATOR LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE AND DIRT BUILD UP INSIDE ALL CHEST FREEZERS LOCATED IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVED EXCESS ICE BUILD UP AND DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED GREASE AND DIRT BUILD UP ON THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL THE COOKING EQUIPMENT, PREP TABLES, REFRIGERATION UNITS, FOOD STORAGE SHELVING IN MAIN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
49
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD FOR LINER ON SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MOPS STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST PLACE MOPS IN POSITION THAT CAN ALLOW THEM AIR DRY WITHOUT SOILING WALLS AND FLOORS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATION OF DUST AND GRASE BUILD UP NON-VENTILATION HOOD AND FILETRS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FEW WATERS DAMAGED CEILING TILES ABOVE CHEST FREEZER IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA/FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE. OBSERVED BROKEN, CRACKED, MISSING, DAMAGED FLOOR AND WALLS TILES BEHING PREP TABLES AND BEHING REFRIGERATION UNITS IN MAIN KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAIR REPLACE ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND MAINTAIN. MUST REMOVE ALL UNEVEN SPRAY FOAM SEALANT ALONG BASEBOARD COVING THROUGHOUT REAR DISHWASHING AREA. OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON WALL IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA AND BASEMENT. MUST REPAINT AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED BIG OPENINGS INTO CEILING AND AROUND PIPES ON BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST SEAL ALL OPENINGS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DIRT AND GREASE ON FLOOR DRAINS THROUGHOUT PREMISES. MUST CLEAN FLOOR DRAINS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIES.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP ON FLOOR AND SURFACES THROUGHOUT PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ABOVE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN UNDERNEATH AROUND AND BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT, UNDER FOOD STORAGE SHELVING, PREP TABLES, DISHWASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES AND MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. OBSERVED EXCESSIVE DUST AND DIRT BUILD UP ON WALLS BEHING COOKING EQUIPMENT, BEHIND COOLERS AND FREEZERS AND PREP TABLES IN MAIN KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FEW LIGHT BULBS OFF IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR/ REPLACE AND PROVIDE INTENSITY LIGHTING AT ALL TIMES.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL THE REQUIRED EMPLOYEES.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THREE CERTFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ABOVE THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN AND PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
Priority (Critical)
Priority Foundation (Major)
Core (Minor)
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