Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe Inc
4255 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 · Belmont Cragin · Restaurant · High risk
Mostly clean — 7 of 9 passed, one prior failure
Last Inspected
2025-05-29
What You Should Know
✓ Passed most recent inspection (2025-05-29)
⚠ Failed 1 inspection (2025)
⚠ Employee Hygiene issues found across 2 inspections
→ Issues were corrected on re-inspection
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Types of Issues Found
🧼 Employee Hygiene critical 2×
📦 Food Storage & Handling minor 1×
🌡 Food Temperature serious 1×
🚰 Plumbing & Waste minor 1×
📋 Documentation & Training minor 1×
Inspection History
2025-05-29 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection ▾
CRITICAL 2 ▾
critical Employee Hygiene
HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED
OBSERVED EMPLOYEE CHANGING TASKS INCLUDING HANDLING CASH CHANGING GLOVES THEN MAKING A SMOOTHIE WITHOUT HANDWASHING IN BETWEEN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010
critical Employee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
OBSERVED CLOSED POCKET DOOR MAKING HANDSINK INACCESSIBLE TO FRONT PREPARATION SERVICE AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(c). NO CITATION ISSUED
4 ▾
serious Sanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
OBSERVED MINOR RESIDUE BUILD UP INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
minor Chemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
OBSERVED SUGAR OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOODS AND SPICES WITH COMMON NAME THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.
minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
minor Sanitation
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
OBSERVED ICE SCOOP LAYING ON TOP OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE ICE SCOOP HANDLE UP ABOVE ICE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
2023-01-24 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass 2 ▾
serious Sanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
OBSERVED MINOR RESIDUE BUILD UP INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
serious Food Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
OBSERVED BACON AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 48.9F INSIDE OF COOLER. ALSO OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE. SAUSAGE FOUND AT 50.1F, HAM FOUND AT 49.2F, EGGS FOUND AT 46.4F...
▾
2 ▾
minor Plumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
minor Sanitation
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENTS AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
▾
1 ▾
minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
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Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health ·
Score calculated from inspection outcomes, violation severity & recency.
· How we score
View official record on city data portal →
Eat or Beat scores are independent editorial analysis of public records and do not represent official government ratings.