La Mexicana Grill
Last inspected: Dec 9, 2025
86
Score
Going back to 2019, La Mexicana Grill has 10 inspections in the public record. On Dec 9, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near two violations per visit across recent inspections.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded five times.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 9, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER NEEDED AT THE 2-DOOR SAUCE COOLER LOCATED IN REAR FRONT PREP AREA. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
36
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA DRAINING SLOW. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED AND BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN REAR PREP AREA/DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN FACILITY IN A GOOD REPAIR.
55
86
Feb 7, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: MUST PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.
37
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR ALONG WALLBASE IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA/DISHWASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
90
Jul 30, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
Inspector notes: NOTED COOKS OPEN BEVERAGE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. MUST HAVE COVERED CONTAINER OUTSIDE THE FOOD PREP AREA.
6
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: NOTED THE PLASTIC ICE SHOOT ON THE SODA DISPENSING SYSTEM IN NEED OF CLEANING. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
16
90
May 2, 2023
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jul 29, 2022
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NOT IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITHOUT PROPER LABELING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
37
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLEAN KITCHENWARE (SAUCEPANS) ON THE DRYING RACK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SAID ITEMS
44
90
Jul 28, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS RANGING FROM 50.3-54.0 F INSIDE OF A COLD HOLDING UNIT IN THE FRONT PREP AREA, SUCH AS 2LBS OF SOUR CREAM(54.0 F) AND 10LBS OF TRES LECHES CAKES (50.3 F). ALL SAID ITEMS WERE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED BY THE MANAGER ON SITE AND DENATURED. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING FOODS AT 41.0F OR BELOW.APPX.12LBS $30.00. PRIORITY 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED
22
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COLD HOLDING UNIT AT AN IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 55.4F HOLDING TCS FOODS (TRES LECHES CAKE AND SOUR CREAM) INSIDE DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD ALL TCS FOODS AND DO NOT USE REACH IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED COOL HOLDING UNIT MUST MAINTAIN A PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. COLD HOLDING UNIT TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION BY THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND MAY NOT BE USED UNTIL THE COLD HOLDING UNIT IS RE-INSPECTED BY CDPH AND MAINTAINING A PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE FOR 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
33
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NOT IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITHOUT PROPER LABELING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
37
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLEAN KITCHENWARE (SAUCEPANS) ON THE DRYING RACK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SAID ITEMS.
44
67
May 11, 2021
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED TORN RUBBER GASKET INSIDE THE DOOR OF 2 DOOR REFRIGERATION UNIT AT THE KITCHEN PREP. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AND/OR REPLACE.
47
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED WASHROOM ON-PREMISE WITH GARBAGE RECEPTACLE AND NO LID. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TRASH CANS WITH LIDS AT ALL WOMEN WASHROOMS AND UNISEX WASHROOMS
53
90
Oct 20, 2020
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILT UP OF SOIL RESIDUES ON STANDING DUST PAN. REMOVE ALL SOIL RESIDUES AND KEEP CLEAN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR DRAIN UNCLEAN IN MAIN KITCHEN NEXT TO MOP SINK. CLEAN FLOOR DRAIN IN DETAIL.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: VENTILATION IN WASHROOM NOT WORKING REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
56
86
Jun 16, 2020
Routine
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: NO PERSON IN CHARGE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
1
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO PERSON IN CHARGE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION WHILE TCS FOODS WERE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED (PORK, CHICKEN, RICE). INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A PERSON IN CHARGE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WITH AN ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-012.
2
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO LID ON TRASH CAN IN UNISEX BATHROOM. MUST PROVIDE.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES IN DINING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND REPLACE.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES INCOMPLETE. MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO OBTAIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE.
58
70
Jul 26, 2019
License
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: FOUND MISSING ITEMS FOR VOMIT SPILL KIT.(SANITIZING SOLUTION EFFECTIVE FOR NOROVIRUS). PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.
5
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: FOUND NO SPLASHGUARDS FOR HAND SINK AT REAR KITCHEN. FOUND NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND PREPARATION SINK. MUST PROVIDE.
39
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FOUND WALLS AND CEILIING NOT SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN AT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREAS. MUST REPAIR.
55
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was La Mexicana Grill last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at La Mexicana Grill on file is from Dec 9, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at La Mexicana Grill?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at La Mexicana Grill.
Has La Mexicana Grill's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at La Mexicana Grill have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at La Mexicana Grill 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 La Mexicana Grill inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, La Mexicana Grill is inspected around two times per year on average.
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