El Asador Express

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Jul 25, 2024 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   1 critical1 general2 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

     No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no person in charge with sanitation manager training.

     Official wording (code 1)

     Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Observed ice scoop improperly stored inside of ice machine laying on its side. Instructed person in charge to properly store scoop in sanitary container.

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no valid city of chicago food service sanitation manager certificate on site at the time of inspection. Instructed person in charge that valid city of chicago food service sanitation manager certificate is required on site at all times as well as certified manager while tcs foods are prepared and served(beef, steak). Priority foundation #7-38-012. Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 2)

     City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no food handler certificates on site for food handler employees. Instructed person in charge to direct food handler employees to obtain training and retain certificates on site.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

2. Aug 17, 2023 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   4 general Show violations

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

     Inspector’s note: Observed rice, beans, and flour food storage containers not labeled on the shelves in the kitchen area. Instructed to label all food storage containers with the common name of food item.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

     Inspector’s note: Observed facility storing food items inside of single use grocery bags in the reach-in coolers. Instructed to store food items in food grade containers or bags.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

     Inspector’s note: Observed cutting board at the prep table with open seams and stains. Instructed to refinish or replace damaged or stained cutting boards.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Observed a slow drainage at the handwashing sink at the end of cookline. Instructed to repair and maintain.

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

3. Dec 19, 2022 Pass

   Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

   4 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • GeneralFood temperature

     Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

     Inspector’s note: Must provided thermometers inside all coolers, maintain.

     Official wording (code 36)

     Thermometers provided & accurate

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

     Inspector’s note: Found bulk containers of food not labeled (beans etc). Instructed to label food when items not in original containers, maintain.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralFood handling

     Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Found soiled wiping cloth on cooking equipment. Instructed to store in sanitizer solution, maintain.

     Official wording (code 41)

     Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Found plastic bowls used as scoops stored inside container of cooked rice, and container of salsa. Instructed to store properly, maintain.

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: Food handler training missing for two employees. Must provide and maintain verification on site.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

4. Dec 12, 2022 Fail

   Canvass · Fail

   1 critical4 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalFood handling

     No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no consumer advisory disclosure or reminder noted on menu for undercooked carne asada. Must provide consumer advisory disclosure and reminder for each item it applies to on menu. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005.

     Official wording (code 25)

     Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

   • GeneralFood temperature

     Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

     Inspector’s note: Must provided thermometers inside all coolers, maintain.

     Official wording (code 36)

     Thermometers provided & accurate

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

     Inspector’s note: Found bulk containers of food not labeled (beans etc). Instructed to label food when items not in original containers, maintain.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralFood handling

     Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Found soiled wiping cloth on cooking equipment. Instructed to store in sanitizer solution, maintain.

     Official wording (code 41)

     Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Found plastic bowls used as scoops stored inside container of cooked rice, and container of salsa. Instructed to store properly, maintain.

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: Food handler training missing for two employees. Must provide and maintain verification on site.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

5. Mar 12, 2021 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   2 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

     Inspector’s note: Plastic lining on bottom shelves of prep tables. Instd to remove so as surfaces to be smooth, even and easily cleanable.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralRepeat violation

     A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

     Inspector’s note: Previous core violation from 3/22/2019 report 2279879 not corrected: 58 observed no allergen training on site. Must provide proof of allergen training for all chicago food sanitation managers. Priority foundation violation

     Official wording (code 60)

     Previous core violation corrected

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: See 60

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

6. Mar 22, 2019 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   4 critical1 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

     Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no employee health policy on site. Must provide written employee health policy for all employees. Priority foundation violation.

     Official wording (code 3)

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

   • CriticalManagement & training

     No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no vomit and diarrhea clean up kit/procedure on site. Must provide written procedure for the clean up of vomit and diarrheal events, with corresponding equipment outlined in procedure. Priority foundation violation.

     Official wording (code 5)

     Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

   • CriticalFood temperature

     Prepared food wasn’t date-marked, or was kept past its discard date.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no labels on prepped tcs foods in coolers. Must label all prepped tcs foods with discard date. Must correct and maintain same. Priority foundation violation.

     Official wording (code 23)

     Proper date marking and disposition

   • CriticalFood handling

     No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

     Inspector’s note: Observed consumer advisory not correctly noted on menus. Must provide consumer advisory disclosure statement, and reminders (*) next to each item on menu it applies to on menu. Priority foundation violation.

     Official wording (code 25)

     Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

   • GeneralFood temperature

     Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no metal stem thermometer on site. Must provide metal stem thermometer to accurately measure internal food temperatures. Priority foundation.

     Official wording (code 36)

     Thermometers provided & accurate

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no allergen training on site. Must provide proof of allergen training for all chicago food sanitation managers.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

7. Mar 22, 2018 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   2 general Show violations

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

     Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

     Inspector’s note: Dry storage bins not labeled. Instd to properly label.

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

     Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn

     Inspector’s note: Improper utensils (bowls) being used for dry storage. Instd to use proper dispensing utensils with handles.

8. Jul 24, 2017 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   3 general Show violations

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

     Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

     Inspector’s note: Observed rear slicer not clean,instructed to clean and sanitize.

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

     Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

     Inspector’s note: Observed the hood and filters not clean, instructed to clean. Also remove food splashes from ceiling, and clean kitchen light shield.

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

     Food handler requirements met

     Inspector’s note: Observed non compliance on the food handler requirements, instructed to provide.

9. Aug 23, 2016 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   2 critical1 general Show violations

   • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

     Facilities to maintain proper temperature

     Inspector’s note: Facilities do not maintain proper temperature. Observed the 1 door prep cooler across from the grill with an air temperature of 46f. The cooler was used to store potentially hazardous foods such as meat and cheese. Management instructed to repair and maintain the cooler below 40f. Critical violation 7-38-005a.

   • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

     Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service

     Inspector’s note: Observed potentially hazardous foods stored at improper temperatures inside of the prep coolers. Observed cooked rice at 52.1f, hot sauce at 44.6f, salsa at 44.1f, sour cream at 47.1f, cheese at 52.3f, chicken at 45.1f, beef at 50.2f, pork at 49.2, chorizo at 50.1f. Management voluntarily discarded approximately 20# of food worth $100. Critical violation 7-38-005a.

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

     Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

     Inspector’s note: Remove the particleboard shelving above the 3 compartment sink and replace with a material which is smooth and easily cleanable. Remove the aluminum foil from the bottom shelf of the prep table. Observed frozen meats stored in plastic grocery bags. Management instructed to use only food grade storage bags.

10. Nov 13, 2015 Pass

    Complaint · Pass

    4 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles

      Inspector’s note: Knife improperly stored inbetween prep cooler and steam table. Instd to store properly.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Plastic lining on bottom of prep table. Instd to remove so as surface to be smooth, even, easily cleanable.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Wiping cloths improperly stored. Instd to store in sanitizing solution.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food handler requirements met

      Inspector’s note: Food hanlder requirements not met. Instd to provide proper requirements for all employees as required.

11. Oct 29, 2015 Pass

    Short Form Complaint · Pass

    No violations

12. Jul 24, 2015 Pass

    Complaint · Pass

    2 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Grocery being used to store food. Instd to use proper food grade containers.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Foam used in corners and along wallbase. Instd to remove and repair so as to be a smooth, even, easily cleanable surface.

13. May 21, 2015 Pass

    License Re-Inspection · Pass

    1 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Foam used in corners and along wallbase. Instd to remove and repair so as to be a smooth, even, easily cleanable surface.

14. May 13, 2015 Fail

    License · Fail

    1 critical3 general Show violations

    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Facilities to maintain proper temperature

      Inspector’s note: Refrigerators and freezers not on. Instd to have on and maintain proper temperatures.

    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors

      Inspector’s note: No pest control logbook or proof of service. Instd to provide same.

    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      Outside garbage waste grease and storage area; clean, rodent proof, all containers covered

      Inspector’s note: No metal dumpster/garbage disposal on site. Instd to provide same.

    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      * certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served

      Inspector’s note: No city of chicago certificate available.