PHO CAFE.

Chicago Health Dept

232 W CERMAK RD · CHINATOWN, CHICAGO

Failed most recent inspection (Mar 2024).

3 inspections on record since 2022 · Last inspected Mar 2024.

Last inspected Mar 2024. Records may not reflect current conditions.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
3
VIOLATIONS
21
total on record
LAST INSPECTED
MAR 2024

INSPECTION HISTORY

MAR 27
2024
FAIL 11 violations 5 CRITICAL
Critical Employee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINKS ON SITE MISSING HANDWASHING SIGNAGE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Critical Pest Activity
FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE, & UNADULTERATED

OBSERVED ADULTERATED FOODS AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. OBSERVED A DEAD ROACH INSIDE A METAL CONTAINER WITH LETTUCE, STORED INSIDE A SINGLE PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. ALSO, OBSERVED A LIVE ROACH CRAWLING INSIDE OF A TWO DOOR PREP COOLER, AT THE TOP PART WITH UNCOVERED FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS TOFU, RAW BEEF, COOKED BEEF, SLICED ONIONS, AND SLICED TOMATOES. THE TWO DOOR PREP COOLER WAS LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE COOKING LINE ACROSS FROM THE VENTILATION HOOD. APPROXIMATELY 10 LBS AT $80 WAS DISCARDED AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED FOOD SHALL BE SAFE AND UNADULERATED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED

Serious Sanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED BLACK, BROWN AND PINK SUBSTANCE BUILD UP ON THE INTERIOR PANEL ABOVE THE ICE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE. ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED MUST REMOVE BUILD UP, CLEAN, AND SANITIZE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED

Serious Food Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER AND A PREP COOLER ON THE LEFT OF THE COOKING LINE ACROSS FROM THE VENTILATION HOOD. FOODS FOUND OUT OF COMPLIANCE WERE: SLICED TOMATOES (46.7F), EGGS (46.0-53.9F), AND CHICKEN (47.6F). MANAGER DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 10LBS AT $60 WORTH OF PRODUCT. MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING FOODS AT 41.0F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED

Critical Pest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES ON THE FLOORS AND SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES ON THE FLOORS UNDER ALL COOKING, WASHING, AND SHELVING UNITS EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND THE FRONT SERVER STATION. OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES INSIDE OF THE SINGLE PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND INSIDE A CABINET WITH A PLASTIC DOOR IN THE BEVERAGE PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DEAD ROACHES, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND MAINTAIN.

Critical Pest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED THE REAR EXIT DOOR LEADING TO THE OUTDOOR DUMPSTER NOT RODENT PROOF AT THE BOTTOM. INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

Critical Pest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED 3 LIVE ROACHES IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA, AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. THE LIVE ROACHES WERE OBSERVED IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE METAL SHELVING UNIT WITH BOXES OF SANDWICH BAGS STORED, ON THE PIPE UNDER THE TWO COMPARTMENT SINK NEAR THE VENTILATION HOOD, INSIDE THE PREP COOLER WITH UNCOVERED FOOD ITEMS, PREP COOLER LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE COOKING LINE ACROSS FROM VENTILATION HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE LIVE ROACH ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. ALL AFFECTED FOOD ITEMS WERE DISCARDED AT THIS TIME, MENTIONED IN VIOLATION #13. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED

Minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED TWO BIG BOWLS OF COOKED NOODLES STORED ON THE DRAINBOARD RIGHT NEXT THE TO LOW TEMEPERATURE DISHWASHING MACHINE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATED TO PREVENT CONTAMINATING FOOD AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED A TRAY WITH 4-5 WHOLE PINEAPPLES STORED ON THE FLOOR UNDER A SHELVING UNIT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REFRAIN FROM STORING FOOD ON THE FLOOR AND ATLEAST 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Facility Condition
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED ONE OF THE WALLS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK MISSING, MAKING THE SINK LOOK LIKE A TWO COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE MISSING WALL AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 06/06/2023, REPORT # 2576857 #49: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM INTERIOR AREA OF THE FRYER AND THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FRYER TO REMOVE GREASE OBSERVED. #55: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL NEXT TO FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL ABOVE THE SINK IN THE KITCHEN AND CLEAN THE CEILING VENT AND LIGHT SHIELD IN KITCHEN ABOVE PREP COOLER TO REMOVE DUST OBSERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090, CITATION ISSUED

JUN 6
2023
PASS 3 violations
Minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM INTERIOR AREA OF THE FRYER AND THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FRYER TO REMOVE GREASE OBSERVED.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL NEXT TO FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL ABOVE THE SINK IN THE KITCHEN AND CLEAN THE CEILING VENT AND LIGHT SHIELD IN KITCHEN ABOVE PREP COOLER TO REMOVE DUST OBSERVED.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

FOUND EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES; INSTRUCTED TO HAVE EMPLOYEES OBTAIN VALID CERTIFICATES.

MAR 29
2022
PASS 7 violations
Minor Sanitation
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

ALL WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN BUCKETS FOR SOLUTION.

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

THE USE OF GROCERY BAGS NOT ALLOWED FOR FOOD STORAGE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE ALL FOOD ITEMS IN FOOD GRADE BAGS.

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

CUTTING BOARDS IN NEED OF REPLACING WHERE WORN WITH DEEP CUTS. INSPRUCTED TO REPLACE.

Minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL GREASE AND DEBRIS BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

ALL DOOR HANDLES ON REACH IN COOLERS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

TOILET ROOM GARBAGE CAN IN NEED OF COVER. INSTRUCTED TO COVER AND MAINTAIN COVERED AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FLOORS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL FOOD DEBRIS AND BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

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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