SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

PHO CAFE.

YOUR CALL. 56/100

232 W CERMAK RD · CHINATOWN, CHICAGO

Last inspected March 27, 2024 · failed

2 of 3 inspections passed, 1 failed. 5 critical violations across the record.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
3
2 passed · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
21
includes 5 critical
RECORDS COVER
2 YEARS
since Mar 2022

INSPECTION HISTORY

MAR 27
2024
FAILED
11 violations5 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

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

CRITICALPest 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

SERIOUSSanitation
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

SERIOUSFood 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

CRITICALPest 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

CRITICALPest 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.

CRITICALPest 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.

MINORFood 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.

MINORFood 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.

MINORFacility 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.

MINORSanitation
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
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
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.

MINORSanitation
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.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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

MAR 29
2022
PASSED
7 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
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.

MINORSanitation
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.

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

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

MINORSanitation
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.

MINORSanitation
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.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

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

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

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

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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