Tamales Express
3802 W DIVERSEY AVE, Chicago, IL 60647 · Cook County
Establishment
- Type
- Restaurant (retail food serving meals) (Restaurant)
- Inspected by
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- License / ID
- 2873326
- Status
- Risk 1 (High)
- Official record
- Chicago Department of Public Health inspection reports
Year by year
| Year | Inspections | Violations | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Inspections
-
Apr 8, 2026 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
OBSERVED BROKEN THERMOMETERS INSIDE UPRIGHT REFRIGERATION UNITS IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
-
Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED RUSTED SHELVING RACKS INSIDE UPRIGHT COCA COLA COOLING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE TO MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.
-
Severity not stated
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
OBSERVED GARBAGE RECEPTACLE IN WOMENS TOILETROOM WITHOUT COVERING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED FLOORS IN REAR PREP AREA AROUND ALL HEAVY COOKING EQUIPMENT AND UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FLOOR.
-
Severity not stated
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BURNED OUT BULBS AND MAINTAIN
-
Severity not stated
-
Apr 16, 2025 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
Result: Pass.
-
Apr 12, 2024 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
FOUND FOOD CONTAINERS NOT STORED PROPERLY ON DRYING RACKS.MUST STORE INVERTED.
-
Severity not stated
-
Apr 4, 2023 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
OBSERVED SLIGHT BUILD UP INSIDE ICE MACHINE. MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE AND MAINTAIN.
-
Severity not stated
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
OBSERVED GREASE/FOOD BUILD UP ON VENTILATION HOOD. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD.
-
Severity not stated
-
Oct 20, 2022 License Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
4-602.13 CLEAN THE GREASE ON THE LIGHT SHIELDS IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND THE INTERIOR OF THE REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER COMBO.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
6-501.12 CLEAN THE WALLS OF THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA.
-
Severity not stated
-
Oct 18, 2022 License · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
-
Serious
Priority
PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
INADEQUATE REFRIGERATION PROVIDED ONSITE FOR THE PROPOSED MENU. PREMISES HAS A 2 DOOR COMMERCIAL BEVERAGE COOLER AND A RESIDENTIAL SIDE BY SIDE REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER COMBO UNIT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATION ON THE PREMISES TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALL TCS FOODS COLD BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
-
Severity not stated
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
CLEAN THE GREASE ON THE LIGHT SHIELDS IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND THE INTERIOR OF THE REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER COMBO.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
CLEAN THE WALLS OF THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA.
-
Serious
Priority
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health. History last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is the inspector's wording. “Serious” is the source's own top tier. About this data.