FEB 2
2026
PASS 1 violation
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
HOOD FILTERS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL GREASE BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
LA ESPERANZA RESTAURANT.
Chicago Health Dept
1864 S BLUE ISLAND AVE · PILSEN, CHICAGO
Passed most recent inspection (Feb 2026).
10 inspections on record since 2017 · Last inspected Feb 2026.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTIONS
10
VIOLATIONS
21
total on record
LAST INSPECTED
FEB 2026
INSPECTION HISTORY
APR 25
2025
PASS 2 violations
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
2-402.11 OBSERVED MALE FOOD HANDLERS WITH BEARD AND WITHOUT A BEARD GUARD. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
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.
MAR 27
2024
PASS 3 violations
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.
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 PROTECT FROM ANY POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION. THE MANAGER CORRECTED DURING THE INSPECTION.
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, AND SANITIZING LARGE EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE LARGE EQUIPMENT OR PROVIDE A 3-COMPARTMENT SINK THAT HAS COMPARTMENTS LARGE ENOUGH TO FIT THE LARGE EQUIPMENT.
APR 27
2023
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 2 violations
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 HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
FOUND UTILITY SINK NOT DRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
APR 21
2022
PASS 2 violations 1 CRITICAL
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.
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.
show all 10 inspections →
APR 14
2021
PASS · 0 violations
APR 7
2021
FAIL 3 violations 1 CRITICAL
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 FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012
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
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
SEP 5
2019
PASS 1 violation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED THE CEILING TILES, AND CEILING LIGHT SHIELD IN DISH AREA NOT CLEAN INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
AUG 13
2018
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 5 violations 2 CRITICAL
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.
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.
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
OBSERVED DISHES IN BASEMENT STORED IMPROPERLY. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT TO PREVENTCONTAMINATION.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
REMOVE DUST BUILD-UP ON HOUSING OF FAN IN WALK-IN COOLER AND ON CEILING OF WALK-IN COOLER.
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.
APR 28
2017
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 2 violations 1 CRITICAL
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. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 550# OF FOOD WORTH $807. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005A.
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 NOT TO REUSE MILK CONTAINERS.
Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-07-05. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →
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