What is EL Pollo Real's health inspection score?

EL Pollo Real has a SafeDine safety score of 93 out of 100 (Grade A). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was EL Pollo Real last inspected?

EL Pollo Real was last inspected on February 19, 2026. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does EL Pollo Real have?

EL Pollo Real has 16 total violations across 7 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is EL Pollo Real safe to eat at?

Yes, EL Pollo Real has an excellent safety record with a score of 93/100. This indicates strong compliance with health and safety standards.

What type of cuisine does EL Pollo Real serve?

EL Pollo Real serves American cuisine. Visit their SafeDine page for safety scores, inspection history, and more details.

Official Health Record

EL Pollo Real

Name: EL Pollo Real
Address: 3835 W 31ST ST, Chicago, 60623
Rating: 93

3835 W 31ST ST, Chicago

Last Inspected: 2/19/2026

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0Excellent

American•Chicago

Ranked #370 of 1000 in ChicagoBetter than 22% of american restaurants

Stable

7 inspections

Last: Feb 19, 2026

high confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

14%

Clean Rate

2.3

Avg Violations

3 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Sanitation

Equipment or surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized

Plumbing issues

Plumbing or waste disposal problems

Pest issues

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Permit/documentation

Administrative or documentation issue

Facility condition

Building maintenance or structural issues

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-9

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-0 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-3 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-4 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Inspection Timeline

+3 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

Real-time Score: 91/100 — This score includes today's freshness penalty and may differ slightly from the displayed score (93/100) which is computed during our regular data sync.

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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3835 W 31ST ST, Chicago, IL 60623

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Violation Timeline

Nov 2022

1 inspections

Nov

Sep 2023

1 inspections

1 high priority

1 intermediate

2 basic

Dec 2023

1 inspections

1 basic

Dec

Dec 2024

1 inspections

3 basic

May 2025

1 inspections

2 basic

May

Feb 2026

2 inspections

2 intermediate

4 basic

Inspection History

7 records on file

2 Canvass Re-Inspection5 Canvass

Feb 26

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionLatestPass

2 Basic

2 total

96/100inspection score

−4 pts

Basic (2)

−4 pts

48WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS−2
4-603.15 OBSERVED MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT TOO LARGE TO SUBMERGE IN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE ALL LARGE EQUIPMENT.
51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
5-204.12 OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW DEVICE ON UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN BACKFLOW DEVICE ON UTILITY SINK..

Base deductions−4 pts

Feb 26

Canvass InspectionFail

2 Med2 Basic

4 total

86/100inspection score

−14 pts

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED OVER 50 MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND CORNERS IN EAST FURNACE ROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED 1/4" GAP AT BOTTOM OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS ON DOOR TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

48WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS−2
OBSERVED MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT TOO LARGE TO SUBMERGE IN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE, AND SANITIZE ALL LARGE EQUIPMENT.
51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW DEVICE ON UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN BACKFLOW DEVICE ON UTILITY SINK..

Base deductions−14 pts

May 25

Canvass InspectionPass

2 Basic

2 total

96/100inspection score

−4 pts

Basic (2)

−4 pts

55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED CLUTTER IN BASEMENT AND ITEMS NOT NECESSARY TO OPERATION. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO ORGANIZE AREA, ELEVATE ITEMS FROM FLOOR BY 6 INCHES AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR NON-MANAGERIAL FOOD HANDLER STAFF. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO DIRECT FOOD HANDLER STAFF TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATES ON SITE.

Base deductions−4 pts

Dec 24

Canvass InspectionPass

3 Basic

3 total

94/100inspection score

−6 pts

Basic (3)

−6 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
4-501.12 OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. MUST REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
4-102.11(A2) NOTED ASSORTED FOOD ITEMS INSIDE REFRIGERATION UNIT STORED INSIDE GROCERY BAGS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE ALL FOOD ITEMS INSIDE APPROVED FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
6-501.12 EXCESSIVE WET FLOOR IN CHICKEN PREP ROOM. INSTD TO MAINTAIN FLOORS CLEAN AND DRY AT ALL TIMES.

Base deductions−6 pts

Dec 23

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionPass

1 Basic

1 total

98/100inspection score

−2 pts

Basic (1)

−2 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
PLASTIC LINING BEING USED AS A LINER FOR ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CHEST FREEZERS TO STORE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHICKEN. INSTD TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT AND OF SUFFICENT SIZE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT FIFO (FIRST IN, FIRST OUT) OF CHICKENS. LARGE 55 GALLON GARBAGE CANSALSO BEING USE TO STORE CHICKEN. INSTD TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT OF SUFFICIENT SIZE AND MAINTAIN

Base deductions−2 pts

Sep 23

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

1 High1 Med2 Basic

4 total

81/100inspection score

−19 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

33PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL−10
3-DOOR COOLER UNABLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER COLD HOLD TEMPERATURE, AIR TEMPERATURE AT 53.2F. ALL DOORS TO COOLER NOT TIGHT FITTING, GASKETS IN DISREPAIR. COOLER TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION AT THIS TIME. INSTD TO REPAIR AND CONTACT CDPH PRIOR TO USING. INSTD TO REPAIR DOORS TO BE TIGHT FITTING AND COOLER ABLE TO MAINTAIN PRODUCT TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
THE FOLLOWING TCS FOODS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES IN 3-DOOR COOLER: SALSA 52.0F AND CHICKEN 52.1F. ALL PRODUCT DISCARDED AND DENATURED AT THIS TIME. APPROX 50LBS $500 VALUE. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY. INSTD TO MAINTAIN COLD FOODS AT 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES

Basic (2)

−4 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
PLASTIC LINING BEING USED AS A LINER FOR ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CHEST FREEZERS TO STORE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHICKEN. INSTD TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT AND OF SUFFICENT SIZE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT FIFO (FIRST IN, FIRST OUT) OF CHICKENS. LARGE 55 GALLON GARBAGE CANSALSO BEING USE TO STORE CHICKEN. INSTD TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT OF SUFFICIENT SIZE AND MAINTAIN
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
EXCESSIVE WET FLOOR IN CHICKEN PREP ROOM. INSTD TO MAINTAIN FLOORS CLEAN AND DRY AT ALL TIMES

Base deductions−19 pts

Nov 22

Canvass InspectionCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

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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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