El Castillo

Year by year

Inspections

1. Aug 19, 2026 Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
   • Not serious Priority Foundation Corrected on site

     PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

     OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ARRIVED ON SITE AT 1:50PM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION

   • Not serious Priority Foundation Corrected on site

     CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

     OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ARRIVED ON SITE AT 1:50PM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED

   • Serious Priority Corrected on site

     PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

     OBSERVED HOT HOLDING UNIT ON SALES FLOOR AT AN IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 126.0F. INSTRUCTED ALL HOT HOLDING UNITS MUST MAINTAN HOT TCS FOODS AT 135F AND ABOVE. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON HOT HOLDING UNIT ON SALES FLOOR. NOTE: HOT HOLDING UNIT NOT IN USE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED

   • Severity not stated

     INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

     OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE OF LEFT AND IN MIDDLE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOUBLE DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

   • Severity not stated

     FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

     OBSERVED CARDBOARD OR ALUMINUM FOIL USED AS SHELF AND COUNTER LINER THROUGHOUT FACILITY. OBSERVED CARDBOARD OR ALUMINUM FOIL USED AS SHELF OR COUNTER LINER ON SALES FLOOR, PREP AREA AND IN DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD AND ALUMINUM FOIL SHELF AND COUNTER LINERS THROUGHOUT FACILITY, INSTRUCTED NONFOOD SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF A CORROSION RESISTANT, NONABSORBENT AND SMOOTH MATERIAL. OBSERVED CRATES OF MILK STORED ON FLOOR IN WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

   • Severity not stated

     FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

     OBSERVED BROWN STAIN ON CUTTING BOARD ON PREP TABLE NEAR SAW. INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE SAID CUTTING BOARD IF IT CAN NO LONGER BE EFFECTIVELY CLEANED AND SAINTIZED OR DISCARDED IF IT IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING RESURFACED.

   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     OBSERVED STAINED OR MISSING CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT FACILITY. OBSERVED STAINED CEILING TILES ON SALES FLOOR, CASHIER AREA, PREP AREA AND DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE ALL STAINED OR MISSING CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT FACILITY AND MAINTAIN.

   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON CEILING VENTS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON CEILING VENTS ON SALES FLOOR, IN CASHIER AREA, PREP AREA AND DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL CEILING VENTS WITH DUST BUILDUP IN FACILTY AND MAINTAIN.

2. Aug 4, 2025 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

     MISSING THERMOMETER FOR HOT HOLDING UNIT (USED ON WEEKENDS). INSTD TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER AND MAINTAIN

   • Severity not stated

     UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

     KNIVES IMPROPERLY STORED INBETWEEN PREP TABLE AND WALL. INSTD TO STORE KNIVES PROPERLY (IE KNIFE RACK, OR ON CLEAN SURFACE)

   • Severity not stated

     TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

     TOILET ROOM DOOR OPENING INTO PREP AREA NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN

   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     STAINED CEILING TILES ON SITE IN VARIOUS AREAS. CEILING VENTS WITH DUST ACCUMULATION. INSTD TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME

3. Oct 17, 2024 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

     OBSERVED PROTECTIVE FILM COVERING SINGLE DOOR FREEZER IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE FILM AND MAINTAIN SURFACE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANBLE.

   • Severity not stated

     FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

     OBSERVED GASKET ON WALK IN COOLER DOOR TO BE IN DISREPAIR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

4. Oct 19, 2023 Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
   • Not serious Priority Foundation

     COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS/HACCP

     OBSERVED UNREFRIGERATED CHORIZO ON DISPLAY AND OFFERED FOR SALE HANGING IN MEAT/DEAL SERVICE AREA. CHORIZO AT 63.1F AND NO LAB RESULTS ON SITE FOR CHORIZO TO BE STORED UNREFRIGERATED. INSTD TO PROVIDE LAB RESULTS FOR CHORIZO TO STORE UNREFRIGERATED OR MAINTAIN CHORIZO UNDER REFRIGERATION AT 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. CHORIZO DISCARDED AND DENATURED AT THIS TIME APPROX 15LBS. $100 VALUE. CITATION ISSUED PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005

   • Severity not stated

     VARIANCE OBTAINED FOR SPECIALIZED PROCESSING METHODS

     SEE 29.

   • Severity not stated

     IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

     KNIVES IMPROPERLY STORED INBETWEEN WALL AND PREP TABLE. INSTD TO STORE KNIVES PROPERLY

   • Severity not stated

     FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

     PLASTIC LINING ON BOTTOM SHELF OF PREP TABLES IN MEAT/DELI AREA. INSTD TO REMOVE LINING SO AS SURFACE TO BE SMOOTH, EVEN, AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

5. Oct 21, 2022 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

     OBSERVED AN APPX. "1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG CENTER OF DOUBLE FRONT DOOR.MUST MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING.

   • Severity not stated

     WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

     OBSERVED SEVERAL OVERSIZED POTS THAT ARE TO LARGE TO SUBMERGE INTO 3- COMP SINK NEEDS A WRITTEN PROCEDURE ON HOW TO PROPERLY SANITIZING UTENSILS OR PROVIDE A LARGER SINK OR REMOVE POTS FROM PREMISES.

   • Severity not stated

     NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

     MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM MEAT SLICER,GRINDER,PREP TABLES,WALK IN COOLER-FANGUARD COVERS.

   • Severity not stated

     TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

     MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE BROKEN DOOR CLOSURE ON TOILET ROOM DOOR THAT LEADS TO PREP AREA.

   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE BROKEN CONCRETE FLOOR IN WALK IN COOLER,FLOOR TILES UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT,STAINED & MISSING CEILIING TILES IN REAR STORAGE AREA.

   • Severity not stated

     ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

     MUST PLACE COOKING EQUIPMENT COMPLETELY UNDER VENTILATION HOOD.

6. Oct 26, 2021 Complaint · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

     REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING FISH WITH LABEL STATING KEEP FROZEN IS IN DISPLAY CASE UNDER REFRIGERATION. REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGED FISH that bears a label indicating that it is to be kept frozen until time of use shall be removed from the reduced oxygen environment prior to its thawing under refrigeration (SUCH AS DISPLAY CASE) OR MAINTAIN FROZEN in package

   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     MISSING CEILING TILES IN REAR. INSTD TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN

7. Sep 13, 2021 License · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     MAINTENANCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR NEXT TO MULTI USE EQUIPMENT. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREAS