El Gallo Bravo
3714 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Restaurant ZIP 60625 Risk 1 (High)
Pass with Conditions · as of Jul 29, 2026
El Gallo Bravo was last inspected on July 29, 2026 with a result of “Pass w/ Conditions”. Inspectors found 10 violations, 5 of them critical.
Latest inspection
July 29, 2026 · Complaint Re-Inspection
Result: Pass w/ Conditions
5 critical5 general-
CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hands weren’t washed properly or when required.
Inspector’s note: 2-301.15 observed the certified food manager wash their hands in the 3-compartment sink behind the bar area where dishes and utensils are washed. Management instructed that all employees must use only the exposed hand washing sinks to wash their hands. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 8)
Hands clean & properly washed
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CriticalFood source
Required records (shellfish tags, parasite-destruction logs) were missing.
Inspector’s note: 3-202.18(a) observed no shellstock tags on the premises for raw oysters for the previous 90 days. Management only has current shellshock tags for the oysters that are currently on the premises. Management instructed to mark the shellshock tag with the date that the last oyster is consumed and keep the tags afterwards for at least 90 days. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 14)
Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction
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CriticalFood temperature
Cold food was held above a safe temperature.
Inspector’s note: 3-501.16 observed improper cold holding temperatures of tcs foods stored in the 2-door prep cooler that was previously tagged held for inspection on 7/22/26. Observed fish at 48f, shrimp at 44f, oysters in water at 46f and cooked rice at 46f. Management instructed to maintain all cold tcs foods below 41f. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 22)
Proper cold holding temperatures
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CriticalFood temperature
Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.
Inspector’s note: 4-301.11 observed the 2-door prep cooler with an air temperature of 48f. The cooler was used to store tcs foods such as fish, raw oysters and shrimp. Management instructed to repair and maintain the prep cooler below 41f. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 33)
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
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CriticalRepeat violation
A previously cited serious violation still wasn’t fixed.
Inspector’s note: 8-404.13(b)(3) previous priority foundation violation from report #2640045 on 7/22/6 not corrected: 38 - observed approx. 100 mouse droppings on the floor of the basement office, basement storage closet and on the prep tables used as storage in the rear corner of the basement. Management instructed to clean and remove all rodent droppings throughout the premises. Additional pest control service is needed to eliminate the pest activity. Priority violation 7-42-090. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 59)
Previous priority foundation violation corrected
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: 4-101.11 observed cooked cactus stored in a cracked plastic food storage container in the refrigerator. Also observed sliced tortillas stored in a cardboard box on the prep table in the basement food prep area. Management instructed to store all foods in proper and intact food grade storage containers.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: 4-602.13 clean the grease buildup beneath the grill.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: 5-204.12 observed a rubber hose connected to the mop sink where the faucet is located. Management instructed to replace the rubber hose with a faucet and install a backflow prevention device on the faucet to attach the hose.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 clean the walls and floor of the food prep area beneath all behind the cooking equipment.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.11 replace the broken floor tiles underneath both 1-door stand up prep coolers located in the dining room. Repair the loose flooring in the rear food prep area across from the washrooms.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspection history
4 inspections on record
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Fail
Complaint · Fail
5 critical2 general Show violations
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Staff touched ready-to-eat food with bare hands.
Inspector’s note: Observed bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods by a food handling employee. Observed a food handling employee touch a tortilla while preparing a taco with their bare hands. Management instructed that no bare hand contact is allowed with ready-to-eat foods. Priority violation 7-38-010. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 9)
No bare hand contact with rte food or a pre-approved alternative procedure properly allowed
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CriticalFood temperature
Hot food was held below a safe temperature.
Inspector’s note: Observed cooked steak stored in a stainless steel container on the grill with a temperature of 80f. Management instructed to maintain all hot foods above 135f. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 21)
Proper hot holding temperatures
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CriticalFood temperature
Cold food was held above a safe temperature.
Inspector’s note: Observed improper cold holding temperatures of tcs foods inside of the 2-door prep cooler. Observed unshucked oysters in a container of 45f water, shrimp at 44f, fish at 45f, and cooked cactus at 44f. Management instructed to maintain all cold tcs foods below 41f. Priority violation 7-38-005. See violation #21 above for citation.
Official wording (code 22)
Proper cold holding temperatures
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CriticalFood handling
No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.
Inspector’s note: Observed several items on the menu that are raw or undercooked (breakfast egg items) without a consumer advisory disclosure asterisk next to them. Management instructed to asterisk all food items on the menu which can be ordered raw or undercooked and link those items to the asterisked reminder statement on the menu. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 25)
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
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CriticalFood temperature
Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.
Inspector’s note: Observed the 2-door prep cooler with an air temperature of 60f. The cooler was used to store tcs foods such as fish, raw oysters and shrimp. Management instructed to repair and maintain the prep cooler below 41f. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 33)
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Observed approx. 100 mouse droppings on the floor of the basement office, floor of the hvac closet next to the washrooms, basement storage closet and on the prep table used as storage in the rear corner of the basement. Management instructed to clean and remove all rodent droppings throughout the premises. Additional pest control service is needed to eliminate the pest activity. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a). Citation issued.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Repair the loose flooring in the rear food prep area.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
License · Pass
2 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.
Inspector’s note: Noted an oversized pot located in the basement prep unable to be submerged in the three compartment sink to wash, rinse and sanitize. Instructed to either remove pot from the premises or provide a large enough sink to accommodate or demonstrate and provide a written cleaning and sanitizing procedure for the pot.
Official wording (code 48)
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Floors throughout the basement with pooling water must remove and maintain dry floors, repair any leaks possibly from walk-in cooler/freezers.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Not Ready
License · Not Ready
No violations
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Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 3 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.