Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine

3231 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Dec 30, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Public records show four inspections at Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine stretching back to 2024. Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine was last inspected on Dec 30, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around one violation across recent inspections versus roughly three violations before.

Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded five times.

Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Dec 30, 2025

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED IN BASEMENT PREP SHELF FALLING OFF WALL, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN

Nov 5, 2024

Routine

No violations found.

100

Aug 2, 2024

Reinspection

6 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: 3-307.11 - OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD AT THE HAND SINK IN THE FRONT BAR AREA, AND OBSERVED NO LID OR METHOD OF COVERING OF ICE BIN IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SPLASH GUARD ON BOTH SIDES AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LID OR COVER FOR ICE BIN TO PREVENT AGAINST POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: 5-204.12 - WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATED THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN BASEMENT AND THE ESPRESSO MACHINE/COFFEE MAKER ON THE RIGHT MOST SIDE IN THE BAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE AND PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: 5-205.15 - OBSERVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IN UTILITY SINK AREA TO BE LEAKING WHEN FAUCET IS TURNED ON FROM BELOW. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN SYSTEM IN GOOD REPAIR.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: 6-201.13 - OBSERVED FLOOR DRAINS IN BASEMENT, WALL BEHIND DRYER, WALL AROUND DRYER VENT, AND OPEN PIPE IN BASEMENT TO NOT BE SEALED AND FULLY ENCLOSED. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL AROUND ALL JUNCTURES TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: 6-501.114 OBSERVED UNUSED AND UNNECESSARY EQUIPMENT STORED IN THE BASEMENT (ONE NON-WORKING DRYER). INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT NOT NECESSARY TO OPERATION OF FACILITY.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: 6-202.11 - OBSERVED TWO (2) LIGHT BULBS IN THE EXHAUST HOOD IN MAIN PREPARATION AREA TO NOT HAVE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING OR SHATTER PROOF BULBS.

Jul 22, 2024

License

1 critical violation. 7 minor violations.

View 8 violations

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CERAMIC/STONE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS PLATES, MUGS, AND SMALL BOWLS TO BE USED FOR CONTACT WITH FOOD WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION STATING THE UTENSIL IS LEAD-FREE OR CONTAINS ALLOWABLE LEVELS OF LEAD. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT FROM USE UNTIL APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION, 7-38-025. ALL CERAMIC/STONE UTENSILS WERE TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AVAILABLE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE FRONT BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD AT THE HAND SINK IN THE FRONT BAR AREA, AND OBSERVED NO LID OR METHOD OF COVERING OF ICE BIN IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SPLASH GUARD ON BOTH SIDES AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LID OR COVER FOR ICE BIN TO PREVENT AGAINST POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IN UTILITY SINK AREA TO BE LEAKING WHEN FAUCET IS TURNED ON FROM BELOW. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN SYSTEM IN GOOD REPAIR.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATED THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN BASEMENT AND THE ESPRESSO MACHINE/COFFEE MAKER ON THE RIGHT MOST SIDE IN THE BAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE AND PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR DRAINS IN BASEMENT, WALL BEHIND DRYER, WALL AROUND DRYER VENT, AND OPEN PIPE IN BASEMENT TO NOT BE SEALED AND FULLY ENCLOSED. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL AROUND ALL JUNCTURES TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNUSED AND UNNECESSARY EQUIPMENT STORED IN THE BASEMENT (ONE NON-WORKING DRYER) AND UNDER THE PORCH LEADING TO THE REAR TRASH AREA/PARKING LOT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT NOT NECESSARY TO OPERATION OF FACILITY.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO (2) LIGHT BULBS IN THE EXHAUST HOOD IN MAIN PREPARATION AREA TO NOT HAVE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING OR SHATTER PROOF BULBS.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine on file is from Dec 30, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine.

Has Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

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

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