Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House

3637 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Feb 26, 2026

Score

Medium Risk

Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House appears in inspection records three times, starting in 2024. On Feb 26, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

Violation counts have ticked up lately, averaging around 12 violations per visit versus roughly four violations earlier in the record.

“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.

By comparison, the average Chicago facility scores 81, putting Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House on the weaker side. The record is unremarkable in either direction.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 26, 2026

Routine

12 minor violations.

View 12 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNS OR POSTERS NEAR EXPOSED HAND WASHIG SINK IN THE FRONT KITCHEN PREP AREA AND IN THE FRONT COFFEE STATION AREA. MUST PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS OR POSTERS.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO ELEVATEALL FOOD ITEMS 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES IN REAR KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED RUSTY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING INSIDE PREP COOLER LOCATED IN THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. MUST REPAINT OR REPLACE SHELVING.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE BUILD UP INSIDE ICE CREAM CHEST FREEZER LOCATED IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REMOVE AND CLEAN INTERIOR SURFACE.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND GREASE BUILD UP INSIDE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE AT THE EXPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE. MUST INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE SO THAT CAN BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLES PROVIDED IN THE MEN'S WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FEW WATER DAMAGED AND MISSING CEILING TILES IN FRONT COFFEE STATION AREA AND REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REPAIR/PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR IN REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA AND THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CLUTTER ON THE BASEMENT. MUST REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITES CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AREA TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR AT ALL TIMES.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DUST BUILD UP ON CEILING VENTILATION VENTS IN FRONT COFFEE STATION AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Feb 28, 2025

Routine

6 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 10 DEAD ROACHES LOCATED IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS NEAR ICE MACHINE, NEAR DEEP FRYING EQUIPMENT, UNDER DISHWASHER NEAR DRAIN, UNDER THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK, AND BY REAR EXIT BEHIND FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE, DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS.

Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled

Inspector notes: OBSERVED PLATES AND BOWLS IN FRONT SERVING AREA NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT PLATES AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE REAR PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE FOR PROPER DISPOSAL OF SANITARY NAPKINS IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD EMPLOYEES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH VALID PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN.

Mar 28, 2024

License

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IS NEEDED ON THE WATER INTAKE LINE FOR THE COFFEE MACHINE ON THE SERVICE LINE. OBSERVED BACK FLOW PREVENTION DIVICE NEEDED ON WATER INTAKE LINE OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED 1 COMPARTMENT SINK NOT ATTACHED TO WATER LINES AND DRAIN. SINK IS PART OF PREP TABLE. REPAIR AND MAINTAIN PREP SINK.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WALL MISSING TILES. INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House on file is from Feb 26, 2026. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House.

Has Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House have averaged around 12 violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Alps Original Pancake House — Alps Pancake House is inspected around two times per year on average.

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