RICA AREPA VENEZUELAN CAFE INC.

Chicago Health Dept

4255 W ARMITAGE AVE · BELMONT CRAGIN, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Apr 2026), 1 critical violation noted.

10 inspections on record since 2017 · Last inspected Apr 2026 · 1 critical violation in the last 12 months.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

APR 2026

INSPECTION HISTORY

APR 22

2026

PASS 3 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF AND ALONG THE LONG EDGE OF FRONT ENTRANCE AND REAR EXIT DOOR. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT-FITTING SEAL AT ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS.

Minor Sanitation

UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

OBSERVED PLATES AND PANS THROUGHOUT NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL PANS, PLATES, AND BOWLS AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.

Minor Pest Activity

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED ALL MOPS IN A POSITION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW TO DRY PROPERLY AND PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. MUST STORE MOP AFTER USE IN A MOUNTED POSITION THAT ALLOWS FOR AIR-DRYING WITHOUT SOILING AND PEST HARBORAGING.

MAY 29

2025

PASS · 0 violations

MAY 14

2025

FAIL 2 violations 2 CRITICAL

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

FEB 20

2024

PASS 4 violations

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.

JAN 24

2023

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 2 violations

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, RAW CHICKEN FOUND AT 44.9F AND RAW STEAK MEAT FOUND AT 45.3F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TCS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 41.0F OR BELOW INSIDE OF A COLD HOLDING UNIT. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED FOOD. FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS AT A COST OF $200.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

show all 10 inspections →

MAY 12

2022

PASS · 0 violations

MAR 24

2021

PASS 2 violations

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.

FEB 10

2020

PASS · 0 violations

MAR 14

2019

PASS 1 violation

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.

NOV 3

2017

PASS · 0 violations

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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