IsTheKitchenClean?
Home·Blog·About·Contact

Inspections by Neighborhood

  • Lincoln Park
  • Lakeview
  • West Loop
  • Gold Coast
  • Old Town
  • Wrigleyville
  • River North
  • Wicker Park
  • Logan Square
  • Bucktown
  • Fulton Market
  • Streeterville
  • The Loop
  • Andersonville
  • Pilsen
  • Hyde Park
  • Chinatown
  • North Side
  • Northwest Side
  • West Side
  • South Loop
  • South Side
  • Southwest Side
  • Far South Side

Inspections by Violation

  • Rodents
  • Roaches
  • Mold
  • Sewage
  • Temperature
  • Chemical
  • Expired Food
  • Sanitation

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.

Tacos Y Tamales El Pollo.

Restaurant

4014 W 26th St, Chicago, IL 60623

Far South Side

Jun 13, 2023 — Complaint inspection

Conditional

Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

Temperature-abused meat and chicken stored in broken cooler; foods held beyond safe limits without discard dates.

Key Findings

  • Beef and chicken stored at 52°F in prep cooler instead of required 41°F or below; operator discarded affected foods during inspection.
  • Cooked rice, soup, beef, and chicken held in walk-in cooler for over 24 hours without discard date labels.
  • Grease and food debris accumulated on cooking equipment, prep tables, coolers, freezers, and shelving.
  • Missing handwashing signage in both restrooms; soiled wiping cloths stored on prep tables instead of sanitizing solution.

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

Was this report useful? Get an alert when this restaurant fails again, tell people what happened to you, or send the link to someone.

Be specific. Keep it to what you saw or experienced.

Loading discussion...

Violation code #10 — ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND WASHING SINK IN BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.

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

OBSERVED TCS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT STORED IN PREP COOLER (AIR TEMPERATURE OF 41.0F). FOUND INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF THE FOLLOWING FOOD PRODUCTS. BEEF AT 52.3F, CHICKEN AT 52.0F, AND RICE AT 49.8F INSTRUCTED ALL TCS FOODS MUST MAINTAIN COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF BELOW 41.0F AND HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF ABOVE 135.0F. OPERATOR VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOODS DURING INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATIONI 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED

Viewing inspection from Jun 13, 2023 · Show current spotlight →

Inspection History

Tacos Y Tamales El Pollo. has had 15 inspections in the last 5 years with a 47% pass rate. Last inspection was on Aug 18, 2026.

Aug 18, 2026Pass

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

Standout inspection
Aug 13, 2026Fail

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

8 violations
Standout inspection
Aug 4, 2026Fail

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

12 violations
Standout inspection
Jul 27, 2026Fail

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

16 violations
Standout inspection
Jul 20, 2026Fail

Short Form Complaint — A shorter, targeted check prompted by a public complaint.

12 violations
Standout inspection
Jul 2, 2026Pass

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

10 violations
Standout inspection
Jun 25, 2026Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

12 violations
Jan 29, 2026Pass

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

8 violations
Standout inspection
Jan 22, 2026Fail

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

12 violations
Jul 29, 2025Pass

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

8 violations
May 19, 2025Fail

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

10 violations
Apr 4, 2024Conditional

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

6 violations
Jun 13, 2023ConditionalVIEWING NOW

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

7 violations
Dec 8, 2022Pass

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

1 violation
Nov 28, 2022Fail

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

2 violations