SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

LA PENCA DE JALISCO CORP.

EAT. 80/100

3640 W 59TH ST · CHICAGO LAWN, CHICAGO

Last inspected March 6, 2026 · passed

5 of 6 inspections passed, with 4 critical violations on file.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
6
5 passed · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
17
includes 4 critical
RECORDS COVER
4 YEARS
since Sep 2021

INSPECTION HISTORY

MAR 6
2026
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED IN REAR STORAGE AREA ON SHELVING. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD SO SURFACE IS SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED SHELVING IN FRONT TWO DOOR COLD HOLD UNIT WITH PEELING PAINT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED WOMEN'S RESTROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE AND MAINTAIN.

MAR 24
2025
PASSED
3 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

MISSING HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT REAR HANDWASH SINK. INSTD TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE AND MAINTAIN

MINORSanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

PLASTIC LINING ON BOTTOM OF TABLE UNDER FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTD TO REMOVE LINING AND MAINTAIN SURFACE EASILY CLEANABLE

SERIOUSEmployee Hygiene
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

RAW WOOD SUPPORT BEAMS AND OTHER SURFACES IN REAR NEAR HANDWASH SINK AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTD TO SEAL ALL RAW WOOD AND MAINTAIN SO AS SURFACES TO BE SMOOTH, EVEM, AND EASILY CLEANABLE

MAR 21
2024
PASSED
2 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.113: MAINTAINENCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR WITH SINGLE SERVICE STORAGE AND DRY STORAGE. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA ONLY

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

2-102.13: MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

MAR 14
2024
FAILED
6 violations3 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

NO HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR AREA WHERE NEWLY INSTALLED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED. INSTD TO INSTALL HANDWASH SINK IN SAME AREA WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY FOUNDATION

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

NO HANDWASH CLEANSER AT HANDWASH SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTD TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES AT HANDWASH SINK. CLEANSER PROVIDED DURING INSPECTION. SEE ABOVE FOR VIOLATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY FOUNDATION

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

NO HAND DRYING PROVISION AT HANDWASH SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTD TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES. PAPER TOWELS WERE PROVIDED AT HANDWASH SINK DURING INSPECTION. SEE ABOVE FOR VIOLATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY VIOLATION

SERIOUSOther
CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

MISSING DISCLOSURE FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY ON THE MENU. INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE ON THE MENU WHICH FOODS (EX, EGGS, STEAK) CAN BE ORDERED UNDER COOKED/COOKED TO ORDER WITH AN ASTERISK NEXT TO THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS; AND THEN BY ASTERISKING THEM TO A FOOTNOTE THAT STATES THESE ITEMS ARE SERVED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED OR CONTAIN (OR MAY CONTAIN) RAW OR UNDERCOOKED INGREDIENTS AND ALSO A REMINDER STATEMENT SUCH AS "Consuming raw or undercooked MEATS, POULTRY, seafood, shellfish, or EGGS may increase your RISK of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions" PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

MAINTAINENCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR WITH SINGLE SERVICE STORAGE AND DRY STORAGE. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA ONLY

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

AUG 24
2023
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORFood Temperature
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS INSIDE COOLERS IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CONSPICUOUS AND EASILY READABLE THERMOMETERS INSIDE ALL REFRIGERATOR UNITS TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF EQUIPMENT.

MINORFood Storage & Handling
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

MINORSanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED VARIOUS FOOD ITEMS STORED IN GROCERY BAGS IN THE FREEZER AND COOLERS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.

show all 6 inspections →
SEP 24
2021
PASSED
0 violations

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 →

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