What is LA Esquina Del Taco's health inspection score?

LA Esquina Del Taco has a SafeDine safety score of 96 out of 100 (Grade A). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was LA Esquina Del Taco last inspected?

LA Esquina Del Taco was last inspected on March 26, 2026. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does LA Esquina Del Taco have?

LA Esquina Del Taco has 14 total violations across 5 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is LA Esquina Del Taco safe to eat at?

Yes, LA Esquina Del Taco has an excellent safety record with a score of 96/100. This indicates strong compliance with health and safety standards.

What type of cuisine does LA Esquina Del Taco serve?

LA Esquina Del Taco serves Mexican cuisine. Visit their SafeDine page for safety scores, inspection history, and more details.

Official Health Record

LA Esquina Del Taco

Name: LA Esquina Del Taco
Address: 3259 W 63RD ST, Chicago, 60629
Rating: 96

3259 W 63RD ST, Chicago

Last Inspected: 3/26/2026

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0Excellent

Mexican•Chicago Lawn

Ranked #1 of 10 in Chicago LawnBetter than 80% of mexican restaurants

Stable

4 inspections

Last: Mar 26, 2026

high confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

Clean Rate

3.5

Avg Violations

1 month ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Employee illnessHigh Priority

Sick employee handling food — illness transmission risk

Plumbing issues

Plumbing or waste disposal problems

Pest issuesHigh Priority

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Other violation

Regulatory compliance issue

Permit/documentationHigh Priority

Administrative or documentation issue

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-8

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-0 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-5 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-1 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Inspection Timeline

+4 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

Real-time Score: 92/100 — This score includes today's freshness penalty and may differ slightly from the displayed score (96/100) 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

3259 W 63RD ST, Chicago, IL 60629

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Violation Timeline

Mar 2023

1 inspections

3 high priority

3 basic

Mar

Mar 2024

1 inspections

2 intermediate

3 basic

Apr 2025

1 inspections

1 intermediate

1 basic

Apr

Mar 2026

1 inspections

1 intermediate

Inspection History

4 records on file

4 Canvass

Mar 26

Canvass InspectionLatestPass

1 Med

1 total

95/100inspection score

−5 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−5

Base deductions−5 pts

Apr 25

Canvass InspectionPass

1 Med1 Basic

2 total

93/100inspection score

−7 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

28TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED−5
EMPLOYEE PERSONAL BELONGINGS IMPROPERLY STORED. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREAS.

Basic (1)

−2 pts

51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
LOW WATER PRESSURE AT HANDWASH SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN

Base deductions−7 pts

Mar 24

Canvass InspectionPass

2 Med3 Basic

5 total

84/100inspection score

−16 pts

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

35APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED−5
OBSERVED FROZEN BEEF BEING THAWED ON COUNTER IN REAR. INSTD TO THAW PROPERLY (EX. UNDER REFRIGERATION, OR UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER)
37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
MISSING COMMON NAME FOR LABELS ON DRY STORAGE (SUGAR, SALT, ETC). INSTD TO LABEL WITH COMMON NAME AND MAINTAIN

Basic (3)

−6 pts

41WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED−2
WIPING CLOTHS IMPROPERLY STORED. INSTD TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
SMALL CUTTING BOARD IN FRONT PREP AREA STAINED WITH DEEP, DARK GROOVES. INSTD TO REPLACE CUTTING BOARD AND MAINTAIN
58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER. INSTD TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE

Base deductions−16 pts

Mar 23

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

3 High3 Basic

6 total3 risk factors

49/100inspection score

−36 pts

High Priority (3)

−30 pts

1PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIESRisk Factor−10
PIC WITHOUT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER CERTIFICATE. INSTD TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
2CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATERisk Factor−10
NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE WHILE HANDLING TCS FOODS (STEAK, RICE, ETC), NOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER CERTIFICATE POSTED. INSTD TO HAVE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012 PRIORITY FOUNDATION
5PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTSRisk Factor−10
NO PROCEDURE OR SUPPLIES IN PLACE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROCEDURE AND SUPPLIES EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS AND MAINTAIN ON SITE. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY FOUNDATION

Basic (3)

−6 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
GROCERY BAGS AND BLACK MILK TYPE CRATES BEING USED FOR FOOD STORAGE. INSTD TO USE FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN SAME
53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED−2
TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING (IN PREP AREA). INSTD TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN .
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

Base deductions−36 pts

Risk factor bonus (3× +5)−15 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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