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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.

Lito's Tamales

Restaurant

4242 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

Northwest Side

Oct 30, 2023 โ€” License inspection

Fail

Required before the city issues a business license.

Rat and mouse droppings found in utility closet; pest entry points left open at front door.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Approximately five rat droppings and four mouse droppings discovered in utility closet; inspector ordered pest elimination and area cleaning.
  • Ice machine used for human consumption in dining area has no locked door, leaving ice accessible to public contamination.
  • Openings at west side and base of front entrance door allow pests to enter; gaps must be sealed.
  • Food stored in backyard walk-in units sits directly on floor, creating pest harborage; all items must be elevated at least six inches.

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 #38 โ€” INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY FIVE RAT DROPPINGS AND FOUR MOUSE DROPPINGS IN UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE PEST ACTIVITY, REMOVE DROPPINGS AND CLEAN AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A)

Violation code #39 โ€” CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED ICE MACHINE WITH ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN ENCLOSURE IN DINING AREA WITH NO LOCKED DOOR PREVENTING CONTAMINATION FROM PUBLIC. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL DOOR ON ICE MACHINE ENCLOSURE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION FROM PUBLIC. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005

Inspection History

Lito's Tamales has had 7 inspections in the last 5 years with a 50% pass rate. Last inspection was on Jul 27, 2026.

Standout inspection
Jul 27, 2026Fail

Canvass โ€” A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

13 violations
Nov 6, 2025Pass

Canvass Re-Inspection โ€” A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

Oct 23, 2025Fail

Canvass โ€” A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

12 violations
May 14, 2024Conditional

Canvass โ€” A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

14 violations
Nov 6, 2023Pass

License Re-Inspection โ€” A follow-up to confirm license-inspection violations were fixed.

9 violations
Standout inspection
Oct 30, 2023FailVIEWING NOW

License โ€” Required before the city issues a business license.

14 violations
Oct 19, 2023No Entry

License โ€” Required before the city issues a business license.