Taqueria la Paz

Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.

Inspector’s note: Observed prep cooler not maintaining proper temperature 51.2f-55.7f. Instructed manager to repair and maintain cooler at 41f or below. Prep cooler is tagged held for inspection and must not be used until reinspected by chicago department of health. Priority 7-38-005 citation issued.

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

Inspector’s note: Observed sugar out of the original container without labels containing the product name. Instructed to label all foods and spices with common name that are out of the original containers.

Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

Inspector’s note: Observed food items stored on floor in walk-in cooler. Instructed manager to elevate all food six inches off floor.

Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

Inspector’s note: Observed soiled wiping cloths stored on prep tables. Instructed manager to store in sanitizing solution between uses.

Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

Inspector’s note: Observed accumulated grease and food debris on interior and exterior surfaces of cooking equipment, prep tables, coolers, freezers, shelving units. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Clean the grease and food debris on the floor underneath the cooking equipment. Clean the grease and food debris on the wall behind the cooking equipment.

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

Inspector’s note: Observed no label on bulk food item containers (beans). Must provide common name to properly identify item.

A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

Inspector’s note: Previous core violation not corrected from 6/6/2022, report #2556817. #58- noted missing allergen training certificates. Instructed management that all city of chicago food managers must complete allergen training and keep certificate on site. Priority foundation violation. 7-42-090. Citation issued.

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

Inspector’s note: Found the chest freezer located next to the walk-in cooler in disrepair; the freezer lid has heavy rust build up and does not properly close/seal. Instructed to repair or replace the lid. Also noted torn gaskets on the 2-door prep cooler in the front prep area. Instructed management to repair or replace gaskets.

Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

Inspector’s note: Found a burned out light bulb inside the ventilation hood. Instructed management to replace burned out bulbs and provide adequate lighting.

Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

Inspector’s note: Must provide visible and working thermometer inside 2-door prep cooler.

Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

Inspector’s note: Observed wiping cloths stored on top of prep tables in food preparation area. Must properly store wiping cloths in a sanitizing solution when not in use.

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

Inspector’s note: Observed raw wood pallet underneath 2-door cooler in rear food preparation area. Must provide a non-porous, smooth,easily cleanable surfaces.

Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

Inspector’s note: Observed plastic grocery bags being used as a sink stoppers. Must provide sink stoppers. Must provide sink stoppers in a good repaired.

Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

Inspector’s note: Observed leaking faucet the 3-compartment sink rear food preparation area. Must repair and maintain. Observed slow leak from pipe underneath 3-compartment sink in rear food preparation area. Must repair and maintain.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Observed grease and dirt on floor under around and behind cooking equipment. Must clean and maintain.

Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

Inspector’s note: Observed excessive grease build up on ventilation vents and filters above cooking equipment. Must clean and maintain.

A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

Inspector’s note: Observed previous core violations not corrected from 6/14/2019 report#2293577. #35 observed no covered waste receptacle in the women's washroom. Must provide. Priority foundation violation7-42-090.

Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

Inspector’s note: 5-501.17 observed no covered waste receptacle in the women's washroom. Must provide.

Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

Inspector’s note: Observed 13 live small flies on the ceiling of the food prep area. Additional pest control service is needed to eliminate the pest activity. Priority foundation 7-38-020(a). Citation issued.

Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

Inspector’s note: Clean the prep tables, grill, oven and prep coolers.

Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

Inspector’s note: Observed no covered waste receptacle in the women's washroom. Must provide.

Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

Inspector’s note: Clean the grease and food debris on the floor underneath the cooking equipment. Clean the soiled ceiling tiles of the rear food prep area. Clean the grease and food debris on the wall behind the cooking equipment.

Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

Inspector’s note: Clean the excessive grease on the ventilation hood and filters.

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

Inspector’s note: Observed rusty shelf with food spills/debris inside reach-in cooler in rear food prep area. Instructed to repair/replace and maintain. Observed missing reach-in cooler door handle at rear food prep area. Instructed to repair/replace and maintain in good repair.

Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

Inspector’s note: Observed accumulated dust on floor in basement. Instructed to clean and maintain.

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector’s note: Observed clutter on floor in basement with unnecessary articles. Instructed to elevate items 6-inch off the floor and better organize items to prevent pest breeding.

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

Inspector’s note: Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE A DRAINBOARD AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK

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

Inspector’s note: Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE OPENINGS AROUND PIPES LEADING INTO WALLS AND CEILINGS IN REAR PREP AREA,GAP IN LOWER WALL BASE UNDER 3- COMP SINK,EXTERIOR LOWER WALL HAS OPENINGS AT REAR OF BUILDING,MISSING WALL BASES IN REAR AND FRONT PREP AREAS.

Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

Inspector’s note: Inspector Comments: MUST REPLACE MISSING LIGHT AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector’s note: Inspector Comments: MUST ELEVATE,REMOVE AND ORGANIZE ALL ARTICLES OFF OF FLOOR AND AWAY FROM WALLS IN BASEMENT AND ALL ROOMS,REAR YARD (FRYERS,MOTOR CYCLE.

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

Inspector’s note: Obserevd front door and basement door not rodent proofed.must rodent proof door to be tight fitting.

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

Inspector’s note: Must provide a drainboard at 3- compartment sink.

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

Inspector’s note: Must repair or replace openings around pipes leading into walls and ceilings in rear prep area,gap in lower wall base under 3- comp sink,exterior lower wall has openings at rear of building,missing wall bases in rear and front prep areas.

Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

Inspector’s note: Must replace missing light at hood of cooking equipment.

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector’s note: Must elevate,remove and organize all articles off of floor and away from walls in basement and all rooms,rear yard (fryers,motorcycle)