What is EL Quetzal's health inspection score?

EL Quetzal has a SafeDine safety score of 79 out of 100 (Grade B). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was EL Quetzal last inspected?

EL Quetzal was last inspected on February 25, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does EL Quetzal have?

EL Quetzal has 19 total violations across 5 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is EL Quetzal safe to eat at?

EL Quetzal has a good safety record with a score of 79/100. While there are some noted violations, overall compliance is solid.

What type of cuisine does EL Quetzal serve?

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

Official Health Record

EL Quetzal

Name: EL Quetzal
Address: 3445 W LAWRENCE AVE, Chicago, 60625
Rating: 79

3445 W LAWRENCE AVE, Chicago

Data may be outdated — inspected 2/25/2025

▲Improving

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0Good

American•Lincoln Square

Ranked #222 of 448 in Lincoln SquareBetter than 22% of american restaurants

Improving

5 inspections

Last: Feb 25, 2025

low confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

40%

Clean Rate

3.8

Avg Violations

15 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

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Other violation

Regulatory compliance issue

Food labeling

Food not properly labeled or dated

Permit/documentation

Administrative or documentation issue

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-21

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-3 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-3 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-3 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-12 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

+10 pts

100

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

100

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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3445 W LAWRENCE AVE, Chicago, IL 60625

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Violation Timeline

Sep 2022

1 inspections

3 intermediate

6 basic

Sep

Sep 2023

2 inspections

1 high priority

1 intermediate

Jul 2024

1 inspections

1 high priority

2 intermediate

5 basic

Jul

Feb 2025

1 inspections

Inspection History

5 records on file

4 Canvass1 Canvass Re-Inspection

Feb 25

Canvass InspectionLatestCleanOut of Business

No violations

100/100inspection score

Jul 24

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

1 High2 Med5 Basic

8 total

70/100inspection score

−30 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A HANDWASHING SIGNAGE FOR HANDSINK IN KITCHEN PREP AREA.

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

23PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION−5
OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT, TCS FOODS HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS (CHICKEN WITH MOLE,TAMALES,SALSAS ETC) NOT DATE MARKED TO INDICATE THE DATE IN WHICH THE FOOD MUST BE CONSUMED OR DISCARDED.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO DATE MARK ALL READY-TO-EAT,TCS FOODS HELD MORE THAN 24 HOURS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.
37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS IN REAR WITHOUT A LABEL.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE COMMON NAME ON ALL BULK CONTAINERS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY ITEM (SALT, SUGAR, FLOUR ETC).

Basic (5)

−10 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED A TORN DOOR GASKET INSIDE OF THE 2 DOOR STAND-UP-COOLER DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE FREEZER.INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE TORN DOOR GASKET AND MAINTAIN.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED FROZEN MEATS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE FREEZER.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS OR CONTAINERS.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD/FILTERS TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF GREASE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.INSTRUCTED TO SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED.

Base deductions−30 pts

Sep 23

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

Sep 23

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

1 High1 Med

2 total

85/100inspection score

−15 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

33PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL−10
OBSERVED COOLER WITH INADEQUATE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF 50 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COOLERS ARE HELD AT 41 F AND BELOW. COOLER TAGGED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
OBSERVED SEVERAL TCS FOODS STORED AT INADEQUATE TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 47-52 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COLD FOOD IS STORED AT 41 F AND BELOW. 1 MANAGER DISCARDED ( 20 POUNDS TAMALES, 2 POUNDS BEEF, 1 GALLON HOMEMADE SOUP STOCK, 1/4 POUND SHRIMP, 8 POUNDS COOKED VEGETABLES INCLUDING CORN AND POTATOES, AND 1/4 GALLON MILK ($600). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Base deductions−15 pts

Sep 22

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

3 Med6 Basic

9 total

73/100inspection score

−27 pts

Intermediate (3)

−15 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
FOUND TCS FOODS NOT MAINTAINING PROPER TEMPERATURE DURING STORAGE INSIDE PREP COOLER (AIR TEMPERATURE AT 41.0F) NOTED INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF PORK AT 56.2F, BEANS AND PORK AT 51.7F, BEANS AND CHEESE AT 54.6F, BEEF AT 46.8F.INSTRUCTED MANAGER, ALL COLD TCS FOODS MUST MAINTAIN COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF BELOW 41.0F AND HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF ABOVE 135F. MANAGER DISCARDED THE SAID FOOD PRODUCTS. TOTAL WEIGHT 25 LBS, TOTAL VALUE $150.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
36THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE−5
INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
INSTRUCTED TO LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (FLOUR, SALT, SUGAR ETC).

Basic (6)

−12 pts

44UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED−2
NOTED ICE SCOOP STORED INSIDE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN A CLEAN CONTAINER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE GROCERY BAGS FOR FOOD STORAGE INSIDE THE FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY USE FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
NOTED UNFINISHED DOOR FRAME IN REAR EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO FIX AND PAINT.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS INSIDE BOILER ROOM.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
FOOD HANDLERS WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.
58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
CERTIFED FOOD MANAGER IN CHARGE WITHOUT APPROVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.

Base deductions−27 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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