⚠️ Recent Failed Inspections ⚠️

EL FARO RESTAURANT

3936 W 31ST ST, CHICAGO, IL 60623

Type: Restaurant

Risk Level: Risk 1 (High)

🍽️ Cuisine: Mexican

📍 Neighborhood: South Lawndale

License #: 77168

24
Total Inspections
8
Passed
7
Failed
9
Conditional
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
Last Result

Inspection History

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Aug 20, 2025 Inspection

August 20, 2025• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION WITH VALID ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE WHILE PREPARING ...(+3 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Sep 11, 2024 Inspection

September 11, 2024• Complaint• 7 violations

Violation: 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION WITH VALID ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE WHILE PREPARING ...(+6 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Aug 15, 2023 Inspection

August 15, 2023• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 9. NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS CUTTING READY TO EAT FOOD(LETTUCE) WITH BARE HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO DISP...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Aug 15, 2022 Inspection

August 15, 2022• Complaint Re-Inspection• 1 violation

Violation: 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED - Comments: INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Aug 1, 2022 Inspection

August 1, 2022• Complaint• 8 violations

Violation: 9. NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER MAKING A SANDWICH AND CUTTING FRESH FRUIT WITH HIS BARE HANDS. INSTRUC...(+7 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Oct 14, 2020 Inspection

October 14, 2020• Canvass Re-Inspection• 3 violations

Violation: 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: OBSERVED GARBAGE CAN LOCATED IN TOILET ROOM WITHOUT COVERING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(+2 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Oct 7, 2020 Inspection

October 7, 2020• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD - Comments: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER STATEMENT INCLUDING ASTERISKING IN MENU FOR RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOOD ITEMS SUCH...(+3 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Nov 18, 2019 Inspection

November 18, 2019• Complaint• 6 violations

Violation: 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: OBSERVED 4 CONTAINERS OF SALSA STORED IN THE 2 DOOR COOLER WITH AN IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 75.4F, 72.0F, 80.5F, 80.4F 2LBS AND WORTH $40.00. A...(+5 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 13, 2019 Inspection

February 13, 2019• Complaint• 9 violations

Violation: 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING - Comments: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY IN PLACE. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SAME. PRIORITY FOUNDATION...(+8 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Mar 2, 2018 Inspection

March 2, 2018• Complaint Re-Inspection• 9 violations

Violation: 14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090 - Comments: PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2145351 2/22/18 #18- STILL FINDING AN APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG TOP AND BOTTOM OF FRONT ...(+8 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Feb 22, 2018 Inspection

February 22, 2018• Complaint• 13 violations

Violation: 6. HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. - Comments: OBSERVED POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES AND BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY TO EAT FOODS BY FOOD H...(+12 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 27, 2017 Inspection

January 27, 2017• Complaint Re-Inspection• 1 violation

Violation: 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: AIR VENTS IN WALK IN COOLER AND AIR VENTS ABOVE FRONT PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE AL...

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Jan 19, 2017 Inspection

January 19, 2017• Complaint• 5 violations

Violation: 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS - Comments: FOUND FRUIT FLY ACTIVITY IN 3 DIFFERANT AREAS OF ...(+4 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jun 22, 2016 Inspection

June 22, 2016• Canvass Re-Inspection• 7 violations

Violation: 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED - Comments: ALL PRODUCTS PREPARED ON PREMISES THAT IS PACKAGED FOR SALE MUST HAVE LABELS WHICH STATE THE NAME, ADDR...(+6 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Jun 20, 2016 Inspection

June 20, 2016• Canvass Re-Inspection• 9 violations

Violation: 14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090 - Comments: NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT NOR TEMPERATURE TEST KIT ON PREMISES. NON COMPLIANT VIOLATION CRITICAL 7-42-090.(+8 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Jun 13, 2016 Inspection

June 13, 2016• Canvass• 12 violations

Violation: 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE - Comments: POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS STORED IN DEEP CONTAINERS ON PREP TABLE IN REAR MEA...(+11 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Aug 25, 2015 Inspection

August 25, 2015• Canvass• 6 violations

Violation: 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES - Comments: OBSERVED A PLASTIC CUP BEING USED AS A SCOOP IN A CONTAINER WITH SLICED PINEAP...(+5 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Apr 29, 2014 Inspection

April 29, 2014• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED - Comments: COOKED PRODUCTS NOT PROPERLY LABELED OR DATED. INSTD TO DO SO.(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jul 3, 2013 Inspection

July 3, 2013• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: THE POTATO SCOOP/CONTAINER IS CRACKED AND STORED HANDLE DOWN IN THE FOOD, REPLACE WITH A SANITARY CONTA...(+3 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Nov 13, 2012 Inspection

November 13, 2012• Canvass Re-Inspection• 2 violations

Violation: 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS - Comments: WALL AT END OF GRILL IN FRONT PREP AREA HAS PEELING PAINT; REPAINT ...(+1 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Nov 6, 2012 Inspection

November 6, 2012• Canvass• 8 violations

Violation: 9. WATER SOURCE: SAFE, HOT & COLD UNDER CITY PRESSURE - Comments: NO HOT RUNNING WATER ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED FOR A RETAIL FOOD OPERATION AT SINKS. MUST PROVIDE.(+7 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Mar 3, 2011 Inspection

March 3, 2011• Consultation• 9 violations

Violation: 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED - Comments: Inspector Comments: All food not stored in the original container shall be stored in properly labeled c...(+8 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 14, 2011 Inspection

February 14, 2011• Canvass• 10 violations

Violation: 9. WATER SOURCE: SAFE, HOT & COLD UNDER CITY PRESSURE - Comments: All food establishments shall be provided with an adequate supply of hot and cold water under pressure properly connected to the c...(+9 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Jun 29, 2010 Inspection

June 29, 2010• Canvass• 9 violations

Violation: 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE - Comments: All cold food shall be stored at a temperature of 40F or less. POTENTIALLY HA...(+8 more)

Health Department Contact

Department: Chicago Department of Public Health

Division: Food Protection Program

Report Issues: Call 311 or File Online

More Information: Chicago Food Protection

Data sourced from Chicago Open Data Portal - Chicago Department of Public Health inspections