What is Taqueria EL Pastor's health inspection score?

Taqueria EL Pastor has a SafeDine safety score of 77 out of 100 (Grade B). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Taqueria EL Pastor last inspected?

Taqueria EL Pastor was last inspected on June 5, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Taqueria EL Pastor have?

Taqueria EL Pastor has 23 total violations across 5 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Taqueria EL Pastor safe to eat at?

Taqueria EL Pastor has a good safety record with a score of 77/100. While there are some noted violations, overall compliance is solid.

Official Health Record

Taqueria EL Pastor

Name: Taqueria EL Pastor
Address: 4418 W 63RD ST, Chicago, 60629
Rating: 77

4418 W 63RD ST, Chicago

Last inspected 11mo ago

▲Improving

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0Good

Chicago

Ranked #960 of 1000 in Chicago

Improving

5 inspections

Last: Jun 5, 2025

medium confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

Clean Rate

4.6

Avg Violations

12 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Temperature controlHigh Priority

Food not kept at safe temperatures — risk of bacterial growth

Cross-contamination

Raw and cooked foods not properly separated

Plumbing issues

Plumbing or waste disposal problems

Pest issuesHigh Priority

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Employee hygiene

Personal hygiene practices not followed

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-23

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-3 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-6 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-6 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-7 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

+7 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

How scoring works: Every restaurant starts at 100 points. Points are deducted for violations found during inspections.

Recent inspections are weighted more heavily. High priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact.

Location

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4418 W 63RD ST, Chicago, IL 60629

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Violation Timeline

Sep 2023

2 inspections

2 high priority

4 intermediate

4 basic

Sep

Jun 2024

1 inspections

2 high priority

3 intermediate

1 basic

Jul 2024

1 inspections

1 intermediate

1 basic

Jul

Jun 2025

1 inspections

1 intermediate

4 basic

Inspection History

5 records on file

1 Complaint2 Canvass Re-Inspection2 Canvass

Jun 25

Complaint InspectionLatestPass w/ Conditions

1 Med4 Basic

5 total

87/100inspection score

−13 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
OBSERVED TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY, TCS, FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES FOR CHICKEN AT 49.0F, CHEESE AT 62.0F, LETTUCE AT 47.7F, TOMATOS AT 49.2F AND SOUR CREAM AT 61.4F LOCATED IN THE PREP COOLER BY THE GRILL AREA. ALL DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROX 5LBS $20 VALUE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN TCS FOODS AT 41.0F AND BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Basic (4)

−8 pts

39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY−2
OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS IN CONTAINERS IN THE COOLER UNCOVERED. INSTRUCTED TO USE FOOD GRADE LIDS/COVERINGS.
40PERSONAL CLEANLINESS−2
OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT HAIR NET/RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
41WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED−2
OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE OF WIPING CLOTHS IN THE PREP AND DISHWASH AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO STORE PROPERLY.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE OF FOOD ITEMS IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS. INSTRUCTED TO USE FOOD GRAD BAGS/CONTAINERS.

Base deductions−13 pts

Jul 24

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionPass w/ Conditions

1 Med1 Basic

2 total

93/100inspection score

−7 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

36THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE−5
THERMOMETER IN 2-DOOR COOLER IN FRONT PREP AREA IN DISREPAIR. INSTD TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN

Basic (1)

−2 pts

51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
5-204.12: UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO INSTALL AND HAVE ACCESSIBLE FOR SERVICE AND MAINTAINENCE.

Base deductions−7 pts

Jun 24

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

2 High3 Med1 Basic

6 total

63/100inspection score

−37 pts

High Priority (2)

−20 pts

33PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL−10
IMPROPER COOLING OF COOKED PORK AND SALSAS. INSTD TO PROPERLY COOL: (1) ARRANGE IN EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH THE CONTAINER WALLS; AND (2) LOOSELY COVERED OR UNCOVERED IF PROTECTED FROM OVERHEAD CONTAMINATION DURING THE COOLING PERIOD TO FAICLITATE HEAT TRANSFER FROM THE SURFACE OF THE FOOD
33PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL−10
UPRIGHT COOLER IN FRONT PREP AREA UNABLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE, INTERNAL AIR TEMPERATURE OF 52.F. COOLER TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. INSTD NOT TO USE UNTIL ABLE TO MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW AND REINSPECTED BY CDPH. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY

Intermediate (3)

−15 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
THE FOLLOWING TCS FOODS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES IN UPRIGHT 2-DOOR COOLER AND WALK IN COOLER: LARGE/DEEP TIGHTLY COVERED CONTAINERS OF GREEN SALSA AT 50.2F, RED SALSA 57.5F, AND COOKED PORK AT 50.9F. ALL PREPARED/COOKED AND DATED 6/16/24. INSTD TO MAINTAIN PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES AT 41F OR BELOW. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY VIOLATION. ALL ABOVE NOTED DISCARDED AND DENATURED AT THIS TIME. APPROX 30LBS $ 100 VALUE.
28TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED−5
EMPLOYEE PERSONAL BELONGINGS IMPROPERLY STORED. INSTD TO STORE PERSONAL BELONGING IN DESIGNATED AREA.
36THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE−5
MISSING THERMOMETER IN 2-DOOR COOLER IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTD TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN

Basic (1)

−2 pts

51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO INSTALL AND HAVE ACCESSIBLE FOR SERVICE AND MAINTAINENCE.

Base deductions−37 pts

Sep 23

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionPass

1 Med2 Basic

3 total

91/100inspection score

−9 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
3-302.12 OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
6-501.12 OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
6-501.14 OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON VENTILATION FAN IN RESTROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAI

Base deductions−9 pts

Sep 23

Canvass InspectionFail

2 High3 Med2 Basic

7 total2 risk factors

51/100inspection score

−39 pts

High Priority (2)

−20 pts

1PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIESRisk Factor−10
OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.
2CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATERisk Factor−10
OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON DUTY WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED, HANDLED AND SERVED SUCH AS (STEAK, CHICKEN, EGGS,PORK,ETC) MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.

Intermediate (3)

−15 pts

25CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD−5
OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY, DISCLOSURE OR REMINDER TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF THE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS FROM CONSUMING RAW OR UNDERCOOKED MEATS, POULRTY, SEAFOOD, SHELLFISH OR EGGS. PRIORITY VOUNDATION 7-38-005
37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED PEST ACTIVITY WITH APPROX. 150 SMALL FLIES NOTED DURING INSPECTION IN BASEMENT PREP AREA. ADVISED TO CONSULT PEST CONTROL AS ADDITIONAL SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE ACTIVITY PRIOR TO RE-INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON VENTILATION FAN IN RESTROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Base deductions−39 pts

Risk factor bonus (2× +5)−10 pts

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Community Safety Reports

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Data source: Chicago CDPH · Official government inspection records

Grading System

85 – 100
Excellent
70 – 84
Good
Below 70
Fair

About SafeDine Scores

Scores are calculated using official government inspection data. High Priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact, followed by Intermediate and Basic violations. Community reviews can adjust the score by up to 5 points when 3+ reviews are submitted.

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