JUL 14
2025
PASSED
0 violationsSANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO
✕
HERO COFFEE.
YOUR CALL. 63/100
439 S DEARBORN ST · SOUTH LOOP, CHICAGO
Last inspected July 14, 2025 · passed
3 of 6 inspections passed, 1 failed, 2 passed with conditions. 3 critical violations across the record.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTIONS
6
3 passed · 2 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
18
includes 3 critical
RECORDS COVER
8 YEARS
since Jun 2017
INSPECTION HISTORY
MAY 212025FAILED5 violationsDETAILS
MAY 21
2025
FAILED
5 violationsDETAILS
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD.
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.
GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
OBSERVED DEBRIS AROUND DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2608072 ISSUED ON 11/26/2024 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #51:FOUND NO FOOD PREP SINK AT FRONT PREP COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO PREVENT FOOD HANDLERS FROM USING HANDWASHING SINK AS A FOOD PREP SINK
NOV 262024PASS W/ CONDITIONS4 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
NOV 26
2024
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
4 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER RINSE COFFEE CANISTER AT HAND WASHING SINK AT COFFEE BAR. A HANDWASHING SINK MAY NOT BE USED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN HAND WASHING. INSTRUCTED FOOD HANDLER TO ONLY USE HAND WASHING SINK FOR HANDWASHING PURPOSES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
FOUND SUGAR IN BULK CONTAINER LOCATED AT COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ANY FOOD ITEMS TAKEN OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITH A COMMON NAME.
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
FOUND NO FOOD PREP SINK AT FRONT PREP COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO PREVENT FOOD HANDLERS FROM USING HANDWASHING SINK AS A FOOD PREP SINK.
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
FOUND INADEQUATE LIGHTING OVER 3 COMP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.
JUN 282022PASS W/ CONDITIONS4 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
JUN 28
2022
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
4 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
OBSERVED NO MANAGER ON SITE AT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL. MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE AT TIME OF ARRIVAL WHILE TCS FOODS SUCH AS MILK AND EGGS WERE BEING SERVED. A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED UNSEALED WOODEN SHELVING IN FRONT SERVICE LINE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PAINT OR SEAL ALL WOOD.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILING IN BACK PREP AREA NEAR REAR DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE MISSING TILES.
show all 6 inspections →
JUN 192017PASSED5 violationsDETAILS
JUN 19
2017
PASSED
5 violationsDETAILS
FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
THE CUTTING BOARD IN THE REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA HAS DEEP, DARK GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO SAND OR REPLACE IT. MUST MAINTAIN A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. -THE FRONT HAND SINK NEEDS TO BE RECAULKED. INSTRUCTED TO RECAULK AND MAINTAIN. -THE TOP DOOR ON THE REAR REACH IN COOLER IS IN POOR CONDITION (TAPED UP). INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
THE FLOORS IN THE CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND THE SINKS AND COOLERS HAVE DIRT AND FOOD ON THEM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
FOUND THE WALLS AROUND THE SINKS, COOLERS AND STORAGE RACKS IN THE REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA WITH FOOD, DUST AND DIRT. ALSO, THE VENTS IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS HAVE THICK DIRT/DUST. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.
PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
THE TOILET ROOM IN THE REAR IS BEING USED FOR STORAGE IS CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED TO ORGANIZE AND MAINTAIN THE AREA.
APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
THE FOOD HANDLERS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA ARE NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THEM WEAR THEM WHILE IN THE FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. MAINTAIN SAME.
Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health. We'd love to link you straight to this restaurant's record — turns out Chicago considers that a luxury. The full dataset is what's on offer →