Pass

Tamaleria Lupita

5904 1/2 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60638

Restaurant ZIP 60638 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Feb 19, 2026

Tamaleria Lupita was last inspected on February 19, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 4 violations.

Latest inspection

February 19, 2026 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

2 general2 paperwork
  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

    Inspector’s note: Observed excessive leak at bottom pipe of first sink compartment where pipe and drain connect. Instructed person in charge to repair and maintain.

    Official wording (code 51)

    Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed hole in wall in rear of facilty where exterior door handle is creating damage. Instructed person in charge to repair and maintain.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • PaperworkManagement & training

    Not all food employees had food-handler training.

    Inspector’s note: Food handler employee on site at time of inspection without food handler training certificate. Instructed to obtain training and maintain certificate on site.

    Official wording (code 57)

    All food employees have food handler training

  • PaperworkManagement & training

    Required allergen training was missing.

    Inspector’s note: Certified manager on site at time of inspection has expired allergen certificate. Instructed to obtain update training and retain certificate on site.

    Official wording (code 58)

    Allergen training as required

Inspection history

10 inspections on record

  1. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical3 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Pic without city of chicago certified manager certificate. Instd to obtain certificate and maintain on site at all times

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Containers of sauce stored on floor. Instd to elevate 6 inches and maintain

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Styrofoam cups submerged in salsa containers and being used as dispensing utensils. Instd to remove cups and use proper dispensing utensils to prevent contamination

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: No toilet tissue in toilet room nor on premises. Instd to have in toilet room at all times. Employee left to obtain toilet paper and returned at end of inspection. Citation issued 7-38-010 priority foundation

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • PaperworkManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: No city of chicago certified manager certificate on site while handling tcs foods (tamales). Instd to have on site at all times. Citation issued 7-38-012 priority foundation

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Missing allergen training for city of chicago certified manager. Instd to provde and maintain

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  2. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 4-602.13 observed containers of salsa stored in 2-door cooler covered in food splatters. Instructed person in charge to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-201.11 observed peeling paint on the wall near the compartment sink and the wall between the dish area and the rear restroom. Instructed the person in charge to repair and maintain smooth and easily cleanable

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  3. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    2 critical6 general Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no adequate supplies (disposable mop, disposable latex gloves, disposable mask, and adequate sanitizer *must eliminate norovirus*) on site to properly clean up any vomit or diarrhea events that can potentially occur inside of the food establishment. Instructed to provide adequate supplies for vomit and diarrhea clean up. Priority foundation violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no handwashing sign at front prep area handsink. Instructed person in charge to provide handwashing sign and maintain.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed containers of bulk ingredients not labeled with common name. Instructed person in charge to label all bulk items not in original container with common name.

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

    • GeneralFood handling

      In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed cup stored in container of liquid being used as serving utensil. Instructed person in charge to remove and use proper utensil for service.

      Official wording (code 43)

      In-use utensils: properly stored

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed 3-compartment sink stoppers missing at the left side and middle compartments. Instructed manager must provide working stoppers at 3-compartment sink.

      Official wording (code 47)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed water backing up at the 3-compartment sink area. When water is released from the 2nd sink basin, water backs up into the 1st and 3rd sink basins. Instructed manager to repair before re-inspection date. Priority foundation violation #7-38-025. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 48)

      Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed containers of salsa stored in 2-door cooler covered in food splatters. Instructed person in charge to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed peeling paint on the wall near the compartment sink and the wall between the dish area and the rear restroom. Instructed the person in charge to repair and maintain smooth and easily cleanable.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  4. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    1 paperwork Show violations
    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no food handler training available. All food handlers must provide food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  5. Fail

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Fail

    2 critical2 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no hand washing signs at hand washing sinks in dish washing and washroom areas. Instructed manager to provide hand washing signs at all hand washing sinks used by employees.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalRepeat violation

      A previously cited serious violation still wasn’t fixed.

      Inspector’s note: Previous priority foundation violation not corrected from report #2573553 on 4-3-23:48-observed 3-compartment sink not large enough for immersioon of largest food equipment. Instructed manager to install larger 3-compartment sink or provide smaller food equipment and utensils. Priority 7-42-090 citation issued

      Official wording (code 59)

      Previous priority foundation violation corrected

    • GeneralFood handling

      Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

      Inspector’s note: Obsrved single service utensils not inverted. Instructed manager to invert all utensils to protect lip contact surfaces from contamination.

      Official wording (code 45)

      Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no self-closing device on washroom door. Instructed manager to provide.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no food handler training available. All food handlers must provide food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  6. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical3 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no hand washing signs at hand washing sinks in dish washing and washroom areas. Instructed manager to provide hand washing signs at all hand washing sinks used by employees.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed two containers of corn husks stored inside utility sink. Instructed manager to remove to prevent contamination.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed 3-compartment sink not large enough for immersion of largest food equipment. Instructed manager to install larger 3-compartment sink or provide smaller food equipment and utensils. Priority foundation 7-38-025 citation issued

      Official wording (code 48)

      Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no self-closing device on washroom door. Instructed manager to provide.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no food handler training available. All food handlers must provide food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no allergen training available for certified manager on duty. All certified managers must provide allergen training.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  7. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed build up of debris and food grime on floor under cooking equipment and shelving in kitchen prep area. Instructed person in charge to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  8. Pass

    License Re-Inspection · Pass

    No violations

  9. Fail

    License · Fail

    3 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: No employee health policy on site at time of inspection. Instructed to obtain and maintain.

      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: No vomit and diarrhea kit on site at time of reinspection instructed to install and maintain.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Hand sink needed at dish area. Instructed to install and maintain

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: All bulk food containers must have name of product instructed to correct and maintain.

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

More in ZIP 60638

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 9 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.