Home› Chicago› Chicago› Hero Coffee

Hero Coffee

439 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Jul 14, 2025
100
Score
Low Risk

Hero Coffee appears in inspection records six times, starting in 2017. On Jul 14, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near three violations per visit.

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

Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Hero Coffee is comfortably above that bar. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 14, 2025
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
May 21, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2608072 ISSUED ON 11/26/2024 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #51:FOUND NO FOOD PREP SINK AT FRONT PREP COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO PREVENT FOOD HANDLERS FROM USING HANDWASHING SINK AS A FOOD PREP SINK
60
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD.
40
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.
41
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEBRIS AROUND DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
54
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.
55
74
Nov 26, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER RINSE COFFEE CANISTER AT HAND WASHING SINK AT COFFEE BAR. A HANDWASHING SINK MAY NOT BE USED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN HAND WASHING. INSTRUCTED FOOD HANDLER TO ONLY USE HAND WASHING SINK FOR HANDWASHING PURPOSES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: FOUND SUGAR IN BULK CONTAINER LOCATED AT COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ANY FOOD ITEMS TAKEN OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITH A COMMON NAME.
37
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND NO FOOD PREP SINK AT FRONT PREP COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO PREVENT FOOD HANDLERS FROM USING HANDWASHING SINK AS A FOOD PREP SINK.
51
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: FOUND INADEQUATE LIGHTING OVER 3 COMP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.
56
78
Jun 28, 2022
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE AT TIME OF ARRIVAL WHILE TCS FOODS SUCH AS MILK AND EGGS WERE BEING SERVED. A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO MANAGER ON SITE AT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL. MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
1
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNSEALED WOODEN SHELVING IN FRONT SERVICE LINE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PAINT OR SEAL ALL WOOD.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILING IN BACK PREP AREA NEAR REAR DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE MISSING TILES.
55
74
Oct 2, 2020
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jun 19, 2017
License
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: THE CUTTING BOARD IN THE REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA HAS DEEP, DARK GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO SAND OR REPLACE IT. MUST MAINTAIN A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. -THE FRONT HAND SINK NEEDS TO BE RECAULKED. INSTRUCTED TO RECAULK AND MAINTAIN. -THE TOP DOOR ON THE REAR REACH IN COOLER IS IN POOR CONDITION (TAPED UP). INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
32
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: THE FLOORS IN THE CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND THE SINKS AND COOLERS HAVE DIRT AND FOOD ON THEM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: FOUND THE WALLS AROUND THE SINKS, COOLERS AND STORAGE RACKS IN THE REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA WITH FOOD, DUST AND DIRT. ALSO, THE VENTS IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS HAVE THICK DIRT/DUST. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.
35
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: THE TOILET ROOM IN THE REAR IS BEING USED FOR STORAGE IS CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED TO ORGANIZE AND MAINTAIN THE AREA.
41
Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn
Inspector notes: THE FOOD HANDLERS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA ARE NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THEM WEAR THEM WHILE IN THE FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. MAINTAIN SAME.
42
78

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Hero Coffee last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Hero Coffee on file is from Jul 14, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Hero Coffee?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Hero Coffee.

Has Hero Coffee's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Hero Coffee have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Hero Coffee means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

How often is Hero Coffee inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Hero Coffee is inspected about once every two years on average.

Nearby Restaurants
Hero Coffee Bar
439 S Dearborn St
Score: 90 — Low Risk
Dunkin Dounuts
439 S Dearborn St
Score: 90 — Low Risk
Hero Coffee Bar
439 S Dearborn St
Score: 95 — Low Risk
Explore More
→ All locations in Chicago → Café / Breakfast restaurants in Chicago
forkgrade — Public health inspection data for food establishments across the US
About Methodology Editorial Policy Privacy Policy Contact