LA Esperanza Restaurant
1864 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608 · Pilsen · Restaurant · High risk
Mostly clean — 6 of 10 passed, one prior failure
Last Inspected
2026-02-02
What You Should Know
✓ 6 consecutive passes, most recently 2026-02-02
⚠ Failed 1 inspection (2021)
⚠ Other issues found across 4 inspections
⚠ Employee Hygiene issues found across 2 inspections
→ Issues were corrected on re-inspection
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Types of Issues Found
🚰 Plumbing & Waste minor 3×
🧼 Employee Hygiene critical 2×
🌡 Food Temperature critical 2×
📋 Documentation & Training critical 2×
📦 Food Storage & Handling minor 1×
Inspection History
1 ▾
minor Sanitation
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
HOOD FILTERS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL GREASE BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
2 ▾
minor Employee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
2-402.11 OBSERVED MALE FOOD HANDLERS WITH BEARD AND WITHOUT A BEARD GUARD. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
minor Other
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
4-502.13 OBSERVED COOKED RICE BEING STORED IN GROCERY BAGS LOCATED IN THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO STORE ALL FOOD ITEMS IN FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS OR FOOD GRADE BAGS ONLY.
3 ▾
serious Sanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
4-602.11(B-E) OBSERVED A MINOR BROWNISH SUBSTANCE LOCATED ON THE PANEL OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
3-307.11 OBSERVED TORTILLA CHIP CONTAINERS BEING STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT PROTECTION BETWEEN EACH SERVING. INSTRUCTED TO PLACE WAX PAPER SHEETS IN BETWEEN EACH CONTAINER OF TORTILLA CHIPS AND ON THE TOP OF THE TORTILLA CHIPS IN ORDER TO ...
serious Sanitation
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
4-603.15 OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR WASHING, RINSING, AND SANITIZING THE LARGE POTS THAT ARE TOO LARGE TO BE SUBMERGED IN THE 4-COMPARTMENT AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINKS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN PROCEDURE ON THE PROCEDURE OF WASHING, RINSING...
2023-04-27 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass 2 ▾
serious Food Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
FOUND TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD CHICKEN AT AN IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 53F LOCATED IN WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DISCARD AND DENATURE APPROX. 5 LBS OF CHICKEN AT $30. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM COLD ...
minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
FOUND UTILITY SINK NOT DRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
CRITICAL 2 ▾
critical Employee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
6-301.14 OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN LOCATED BEHIND THE BAR AT THE HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED BEHIND THE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
2021-04-14 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection ▾
CRITICAL 3 ▾
critical Documentation & Training
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS(TACOS, EGGS, RICE AND BEANS, ETC)ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER SHALL BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOU...
serious Sanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
OBSERVED THE ICE MACHINE WITH BLACK AND PINK SLIMY SUBSTANCE INSIDE. INSTRUCTED TO EMPTY, CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005
minor Plumbing & Waste
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED SEVERAL LIGHT BULBS MISSING IN THE MEN'S HANDICAP, WOMEN'S HANDICAP, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TOILET ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN
1 ▾
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED THE CEILING TILES, AND CEILING LIGHT SHIELD IN DISH AREA NOT CLEAN INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
2018-08-13 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass CRITICAL 5 ▾
critical Documentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
OBSERVED NO POLICY IN PLACE FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.
critical Other
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
OBSERVED NO PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.
minor Other
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
OBSERVED DISHES IN BASEMENT STORED IMPROPERLY. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT TO PREVENTCONTAMINATION.
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
REMOVE DUST BUILD-UP ON HOUSING OF FAN IN WALK-IN COOLER AND ON CEILING OF WALK-IN COOLER.
minor Other
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.
2017-04-28 Pass w/ Conditions License CRITICAL 2 ▾
critical Food Temperature
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
OBSERVED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES INSIDE OF THE WALK-IN COOLER. OBSERVED COOKED BEANS AT 44.4F, EGGS AT 43.9F, COOKED RICE AT 43.5F, SOUP AT 44.4F, BEEF AT 43.9F, SHRIMP AT 43.5F, CHICKEN AT 43.9F, MILK AT 43.5F. MANAGEM...
minor Sanitation
FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
OBSERVED FOODS STORED IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. ALSO OBSERVED A MILK JUG FILLED WITH COCKTAIL SAUCE IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND NO...
Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health ·
Score calculated from inspection outcomes, violation severity & recency.
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