What is Taqueria LA Ciudad's health inspection score?

Taqueria LA Ciudad has a SafeDine safety score of 85 out of 100 (Grade A). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Taqueria LA Ciudad last inspected?

Taqueria LA Ciudad was last inspected on April 15, 2026. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Taqueria LA Ciudad have?

Taqueria LA Ciudad has 16 total violations across 1 inspection on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Taqueria LA Ciudad safe to eat at?

Yes, Taqueria LA Ciudad has an excellent safety record with a score of 85/100. This indicates strong compliance with health and safety standards.

What type of cuisine does Taqueria LA Ciudad serve?

Taqueria LA Ciudad serves Mexican cuisine. Visit their SafeDine page for safety scores, inspection history, and more details.

Official Health Record

Taqueria LA Ciudad

Name: Taqueria LA Ciudad
Address: 5009 S ASHLAND AVE, Chicago, 60609
Rating: 85

5009 S ASHLAND AVE, Chicago

Last Inspected: 4/15/2026

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0Excellent

Mexican•Back of the Yards

Ranked #42 of 57 in Back of the YardsBetter than 84% of mexican restaurants

Declining

7 inspections

Last: Apr 15, 2026

high confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

14%

Clean Rate

2.3

Avg Violations

2 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Temperature control

Food not kept at safe temperatures — risk of bacterial growth

SanitationHigh Priority

Equipment or surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized

Pest issues

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Food labeling

Food not properly labeled or dated

Food storage

Food not properly stored or protected

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-11

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-0 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-2 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-1 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Inspection Timeline

-6 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

Real-time Score: 89/100 — This score includes today's freshness penalty and may differ slightly from the displayed score (85/100) 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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5009 S ASHLAND AVE, Chicago, IL 60609

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Violation Timeline

Jan 2023

1 inspections

2 basic

Jan

Jan 2024

1 inspections

1 high priority

1 intermediate

4 basic

Apr 2024

2 inspections

2 intermediate

1 basic

Apr

Feb 2025

1 inspections

3 basic

Jan 2026

1 inspections

1 intermediate

Jan

Apr 2026

1 inspections

1 high priority

Inspection History

7 records on file

6 Canvass1 Canvass Re-Inspection

Apr 26

Canvass InspectionLatestPass with Conditions

1 High

1 total1 risk factor

85/100inspection score

−10 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZEDRisk Factor−10

Base deductions−10 pts

Risk factor bonus (1× +5)−5 pts

Jan 26

Canvass InspectionPass

1 Med

1 total

95/100inspection score

−5 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
Bulk food containers not labeled, instructed to label and maintain.

Base deductions−5 pts

Feb 25

Canvass InspectionPass

3 Basic

3 total

94/100inspection score

−6 pts

Basic (3)

−6 pts

44UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED−2
OBSERVED LARGE CONTAINERS IN DRY STORAGE ROOM NOT STORED INVERTED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO INVERAT ALL POTS, PANS, AND CONTAINERS WHEN NOT IN USE.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED TAPE USE ON GASKET AT TWO-DOOR COOLER IN FRONT OF PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND PROPERLY REPAIR GASKET.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED DOORWAY LEADING TO REAR STORAGE ROOM (NEAR EXTERIOR REAR DOOR) TO HAVE LARGE GAPS. OBSERVED STAINED CEILING TILE NEAR TWO DOOR COOLER IN FRONT COUNTER AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO SEAL AND CLOSE ALL GAPS AND REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING TILES.

Base deductions−6 pts

Apr 24

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

Apr 24

Canvass InspectionFail

2 Med1 Basic

3 total

88/100inspection score

−12 pts

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
NOTED INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD ITEMS INSIDE THE COLD HOLD COOLER TO BE IMPROPER: SALSA VERDE AT 54.2 F, SALSA ROJA AT 52.8 F. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY AND VOLUNTARILY DISPOSED OF 1.0 LBS OF PRODUCTS WORTH $ 6.00 THROUGH DENATURING PROCESS. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED PEST INFESTATION. NOTED OVER 1000 MICE DROPPING ON SHELVES AND FLOORS IN DRY STORAGE AREA, KITCHEN ARE UNDER 3 COMPARTMENTS SINK AND BEHIND THE EQUIPMENT, IN THE FRONT PREP AREA AND BACK STORAGE AREA, IN UTILITY SINK ROOM, ON THE SHELVING AND THE FLOOR BEHIND THE SHELVING IN THE BACK STORAGE ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS. RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT WITH PEST CONTROL COMPANY TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY.PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED

Basic (1)

−2 pts

60PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED−2
PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS FROM 01/18/2024, REPORT #2588214, OBSERVED NOT TO BE CORRECTED AS FOLLOWS: #37 OBSERVED NO LABELS FOR BULK STORAGE CONTAINER (SUGAR) STORED ON DRY STORAGE SHELF WITH SEASONINGS IN THE KITCHEN. THE INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE OF ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH THE CONTENTS' NAMES. #47 OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK STOPPERS MISSING/NOT WORKING AT THE LEFT SIDE AND MIDDLE COMPARTMENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. #47 OBSERVED FROZEN CHICKEN, BEEF, AND OTHER FOOD STORED INSIDE PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE CHEST FREEZER AND TWO-DOOR COOLER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD-GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.

Base deductions−12 pts

Jan 24

Canvass InspectionPass

1 High1 Med4 Basic

6 total

77/100inspection score

−23 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
OBSERVED NO HAND SIGNAGE AT THE FRONT FOOD PREP HAND SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
OBSERVED NO LABELS FOR BULK STORAGE CONTAINER (SUGAR) STORED ON DRY STORAGE SHELF WITH SEASONINGS IN THE KITCHEN. THE INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE OF ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH THE CONTENTS' NAMES.

Basic (4)

−8 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED FROZEN CHICKEN, BEEF, AND OTHER FOOD STORED INSIDE PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE CHEST FREEZER AND TWO-DOOR COOLER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD-GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK STOPPERS MISSING/NOT WORKING AT THE LEFT SIDE AND MIDDLE COMPARTMENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS BUILDUP ON THE TOILET ROOM EXHAUST VENTILATION NEAR THE KITCHEN. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.

Base deductions−23 pts

Jan 23

Canvass InspectionPass

2 Basic

2 total

96/100inspection score

−4 pts

Basic (2)

−4 pts

39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY−2
OBSERVED SODA AND JUICES STORED ON THE FLOOR UNDER FRONT COUNTER AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ITEMS SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE THE UTILITY CLOSET AND REMOVE UNNECESSATY ARTICLES DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE.

Base deductions−4 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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