Taqueria Vargas
Last inspected: May 22, 2019
86
Score
Public records show six inspections at Taqueria Vargas stretching back to 2015. The latest inspection on file is from May 22, 2019. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues. Public records show no inspections at Taqueria Vargas since May 22, 2019, so this file may not reflect current conditions.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near five violations per visit.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.
The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Taqueria Vargas on the better side of that line. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 22, 2019
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: FOUND NO SUPPLIES/VOMIT SPILLKIT KIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.
5
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: FOUND POTS NOT STORED PROPERLY.MUST STORE INVERTED ON SHELVING UNITS.
44
86
Sep 28, 2018
Routine
3 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 14 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: 2-501.11 NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE OR REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR A VOMITING OR DIARRHEA EVENT. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: 2-102.14(N) NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: 3-603.11 MUST DISCLOSE ITEMS ON MENU THAT PERTAIN TO THE CONSUMER ADVISORY POSTED, SUCH AS SUNNY SIDE UP EGG NOTED ON MENU ITEM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
25
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: 3-304.12(E) BULK FOOD SCOOPS IMPROPERLY STORED INSIDE FOODS. MUST PROPERLY STORE BULK FOOD SCOOPS.
43
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: 4-903.11(B) ALL POTS/PANS MUST BE STORED INVERTED.
44
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-202.16- MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION OR SHELVING.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-101.11- MUST NOT USE GROCERY BAGS AS FOOD CONTAINERS---MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD AS LINER FOR FOOD CONTAINERS OR RAW WOOD AS FOOD CONTAINERS. FOOD CONTAINERS MUST BE WASHABLE OR FOOD GRADE DISPOSABLE PLASTIC BAGS.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 BACK FLOW PREVENTER NOT LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. MUST PROVIDE A BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE UTILITY MOP SINK.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.114 ALL UNNECESSARY STORED ARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE REAR STORAGE AREA AND AT MOP ROOM MUST BE REMOVED AND ALL OTHER ITEMS STORED ELEVATED AND ORGANIZED FROM THE FLOORS 6" OR ABOVE INCLUDING ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT REAR PREP.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.17- EXCESSIVE DUST ON THE CEILING VENTILATION IN THE WASHROOM. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11 ALL FLOORS THROUGHOUT BOTH PREP AREAS AND DISH AREA WITH EXCESSIVE FOOD DEBRIS, DIRT AND GREASE ALONG BASEBOARDS, UNDER COOKS LINE EQUIPMENT, UNDER ALL REAR PREP SHELVING, DISH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND SHELVING. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL----. ALL WALLS AT THE DISH AND COOKS LINE PREP AREA WITH FOOD SPLATTER. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.----PEELING PAINT ON THE WALL AT THE REAR PREP HAND AND ONE COMPARTMENT PREP SINKS. MUST REMOVE. WALL CAULKING AT THE ONE COMPARTMENT PREP SINK FOUND UNEVEN AND PEELING. MUST REPLACE TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: PA 100-0367 NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS. MUST PROVIDE.
58
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: 3-501.17 ALL PREPARED TCS FOODS MUST BE PROPERLY DATE MARKED WITH EXPIRATION DATE.
23
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: 3-304.12 (C) TONGS IMPROPERLY STORED WHILE IN USE ON THE HAND SINK SPLASH GUARD. MUST STORE IN USE UTENSILS PROPERLY.
43
43
Jun 30, 2017
Complaint
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: DEBRIS ON SHELVES BY THE PREP AREA AT REAR PREP AREA.NEED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: DEBRIS ON FLOOR AT REAR PREP AREA ALONG BASEBOARD WALL.
34
90
Jan 25, 2017
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service
Inspector notes: FOUND 5 POUNDS OF COOKED BEANS IN PLASTIC CLEAR CONTAINER STORED INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER AT TEMP OF 68.7F. UNIT MAINTAIN AIR TEMP OF 40.2F.COLD FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 40F AND BELOW. FOOD DISCARDED AND DENATURED BY THE MANAGER. POUNDS 5,VALUE 10 CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
3
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED KNIVES STORED BETWEEN THE WALL AND PREP TABLE.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A KNIVES RACKS
32
90
Mar 31, 2016
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
* certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANDGER ON SITE WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD IS BEING PREPARRED COOKED AND SERVED INCLUDING CHICKEN AND BEEF. MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE ANY TIME POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD IS BEING PREPARRED COOKED AND SERVED. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-012
21
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREPACKAGED DESSERTS IN COOLER NEED TO BE LABELED WITH INGREDIENTS, NAME OF PRODUCT, NAME AND ADDRESS OF RESTAURNAT WHERE IT HAS BEEN PREPARRED.
30
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN KITCHEN AT GRILL AREA. REPLACE ANY BROKEN FLOOR TILES AND MAINTAIN.
34
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THERMOMETER NEEDED IN SMALL REFRIGERATOR/COLD HOLD UNIT IN KITHCEN. INSTALL AND MAINTAIN WORKING THERMOMETER
40
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO IDPH FOOD HADNLER CERTIFICATES IN PLACE. ADDITIONAL IDPH FOOD HADNLER INFORMATION PROVIDED.
45
78
May 12, 2015
License
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: Non food contact surfaces of walk in cooler shelving/racks not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). Non food contact surfaces of ice machine not clean, needs cleaning(detailed).
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: Floors in prep area under 3 compartment sink not clean, needs detailed cleaning(corners), floors in rear prep area storage area not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners). Floors in furnace rooms not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices).
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: Walls that had peeling paint, exposed raw wood in rear storage areas, shall be repaired/sealed. Walls that had peeling paint, peeling plaster in rear furnace room areas, shall be repaired/sealed.
35
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: Missing light shields in rear prep area, and rear storage area, shall be provided.
36
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: Must provide back flow preventer to mop sink.
38
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: Excess debris and clutter in 2nd furnace room shall be removed, also stock items must be stored six inches off of floor to prevent pest harborage.
41
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Taqueria Vargas last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Taqueria Vargas on file is from May 22, 2019. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Taqueria Vargas?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Taqueria Vargas.
Has Taqueria Vargas' inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Taqueria Vargas have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Taqueria Vargas means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
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