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IsTheKitchenClean displays publicly available food inspection data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Trending rankings and summaries are automated interpretations of that data and are not official health department assessments. Inspection findings reflect conditions at a specific point in time and may not represent current conditions at a restaurant.

El Gallo Bravo

Restaurant

3714 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

North Side

Jul 29, 2026 — Complaint re-inspection

Conditional

A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

About 100 mouse droppings found in basement office, storage areas, and prep tables; pest control needed.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Approximately 100 mouse droppings observed on basement office floor, storage closet, and prep tables used for food storage.
  • Two-door prep cooler holding raw fish, shrimp, oysters, and cooked rice at unsafe temperatures (44-48°F instead of required 41°F or below); cooler itself measured 48°F and needs repair.
  • No shellstock tags retained for raw oysters consumed over the past 90 days; only current tags available.
  • Certified food manager observed washing hands in three-compartment dish sink instead of designated hand-washing sink.

Key findings are derived directly from the inspector's notes from the Chicago Department of Public Health. See the full violation notes below.

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Violation code #59 — PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED
Inspector's Notes:

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.

Violation code #22 — PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Inspector's Notes:

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.

Inspection History

El Gallo Bravo has had 4 inspections in the last 5 years with a 67% pass rate. Last inspection was on Jul 29, 2026.

Standout inspection
Jul 29, 2026ConditionalVIEWING NOW

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

10 violations
Standout inspection
Jul 22, 2026Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

7 violations
Aug 25, 2025Pass

License — Required before the city issues a business license.

2 violations