SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

LA CAFETERIA INC.

BEAT. 43/100

4459 W LAWRENCE AVE · JEFFERSON PARK, CHICAGO

Last inspected March 27, 2026 · passed

Failed 2 of 5 inspections. 7 critical violations on the cumulative record. Pattern of issues, not a one-off.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
5
2 passed · 1 w/ conditions · 2 failed
VIOLATIONS
16
includes 7 critical
RECORDS COVER
1 YEAR
since Apr 2024

INSPECTION HISTORY

MAR 27
2026
PASSED
1 violation
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED REAR FLOOR MISSING FLOOR TILES. WOOD IS BEING USED AS A SUBSTITUTE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE MISSING FLOOR TILES TO ENSURE FLOOR IS EASILY CLEANABLE.

MAR 24
2026
FAILED
4 violations4 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER IS ON SITE AT ALL TINES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED OBSERVED 2 OF 3 HAND WASHING SINKS IN FACILITY WITH NO SOAP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE SOAP TO ALL HAND WASHING SINK. MANAGER HAD SOAP BOUGHT INSIDE AND PLACED AT HAND WASHING SINKS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED 3 OF 3 HAND WASHING SINKS WITH NO PAPER TOWELS/ HAND DRYING PROVISIONS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. MANAGER SUPPLIED PAPER TOWELS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION CONSOLIDATED.

CRITICALPlumbing & Waste
SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

OBSERVED INADEQUATE WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. WHEN ONE COMPARTMENT DRAINS ANOTHER ONE FLOODS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C). CITATION ISSUED

FEB 24
2025
PASSED
0 violations
FEB 3
2025
FAILED
1 violation
DETAILS
SERIOUSEmployee Hygiene
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT DATED 4/22/24 INSPECTION # 25931516 NOT CORRECTED INCLUDING VIOLATION #10 OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. VIOLATION #28 OBSERVED PROPANE TANK AND PROPANE POWERED HOT PLATES USED IN REAR PREP AREA FOR TEA PREPARATION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE PROPANE TANK AND EQUIPMENT FROM PREMISES AND ONLY USE APPROVED COOKING EQUIPMENT. #51 UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTER AT ESPRESSO MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.#56 6-304.11 OBSERVED TURBO CHEF OVEN IN REAR PREP AREA USED FOR EXTENSIVE COOKING SUCH AS PREPARING HAMBURGERS, EGGS, ETC. NOT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTIALATION. INSTRUCTED TO PLACE ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090

APR 22
2024
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
10 violations3 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.

CRITICALSanitation
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

OBSERVED NO KIT AND PROCEDURE ON SITE FOR REPSONDING TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA. LEFT ONE PAGER AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN PROCEDURE AND KIT CONTAINING ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES INCLUDING A SANITIZER RATED AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

SERIOUSChemical Safety
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

OBSERVED PROPANE TANK AND PROPANE POWERED HOT PLATES USED IN REAR PREP AREA FOR TEA PREPARATION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE PROPANE TANK AND EQUIPMENT FROM PREMISES AND ONLY USE APPROVED COOKING EQUIPMENT.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTER AT ESPRESSO MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT (COOLERS, COFFEE EQUIPMENT, ETC) IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FROM PREMISES.

MINORFacility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED TURBO CHEF OVEN IN REAR PREP AREA USED FOR EXTENSIVE COOKING SUCH AS PREPARING HAMBURGERS, EGGS, ETC. NOT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTIALATION. INSTRUCTED TO PLACE ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.

MINORFacility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED BURNT OUT LIGHTBULB IN CEILING OF REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED 1 FOOD EMPLOYEE WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAININ AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

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 →

NEARBY IN JEFFERSON PARK