La Penca De Jalisco

3640 W 59Th St, Chicago, IL 60629

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Mar 6, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Going back to 2021, La Penca De Jalisco has six inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Mar 6, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.

Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around three violations each.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible”, showing up four times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting La Penca De Jalisco on the better side of that line. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Mar 6, 2026

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED IN REAR STORAGE AREA ON SHELVING. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD SO SURFACE IS SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SHELVING IN FRONT TWO DOOR COLD HOLD UNIT WITH PEELING PAINT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WOMEN'S RESTROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE AND MAINTAIN.

Mar 24, 2025

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: PLASTIC LINING ON BOTTOM OF TABLE UNDER FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTD TO REMOVE LINING AND MAINTAIN SURFACE EASILY CLEANABLE

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: RAW WOOD SUPPORT BEAMS AND OTHER SURFACES IN REAR NEAR HANDWASH SINK AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTD TO SEAL ALL RAW WOOD AND MAINTAIN SO AS SURFACES TO BE SMOOTH, EVEM, AND EASILY CLEANABLE

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: MISSING HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT REAR HANDWASH SINK. INSTD TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE AND MAINTAIN

Mar 21, 2024

Reinspection

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: 6-501.113: MAINTAINENCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR WITH SINGLE SERVICE STORAGE AND DRY STORAGE. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA ONLY

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: 2-102.13: MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

Mar 14, 2024

Routine

2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: NO HAND DRYING PROVISION AT HANDWASH SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTD TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES. PAPER TOWELS WERE PROVIDED AT HANDWASH SINK DURING INSPECTION. SEE ABOVE FOR VIOLATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY VIOLATION

Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

Inspector notes: MISSING DISCLOSURE FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY ON THE MENU. INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE ON THE MENU WHICH FOODS (EX, EGGS, STEAK) CAN BE ORDERED UNDER COOKED/COOKED TO ORDER WITH AN ASTERISK NEXT TO THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS; AND THEN BY ASTERISKING THEM TO A FOOTNOTE THAT STATES THESE ITEMS ARE SERVED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED OR CONTAIN (OR MAY CONTAIN) RAW OR UNDERCOOKED INGREDIENTS AND ALSO A REMINDER STATEMENT SUCH AS "Consuming raw or undercooked MEATS, POULTRY, seafood, shellfish, or EGGS may increase your RISK of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions" PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: NO HANDWASH CLEANSER AT HANDWASH SINK IN PREP AREA. INSTD TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES AT HANDWASH SINK. CLEANSER PROVIDED DURING INSPECTION. SEE ABOVE FOR VIOLATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY FOUNDATION

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: NO HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR AREA WHERE NEWLY INSTALLED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED. INSTD TO INSTALL HANDWASH SINK IN SAME AREA WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY FOUNDATION

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: MAINTAINENCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR WITH SINGLE SERVICE STORAGE AND DRY STORAGE. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA ONLY

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

Aug 24, 2023

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS INSIDE COOLERS IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CONSPICUOUS AND EASILY READABLE THERMOMETERS INSIDE ALL REFRIGERATOR UNITS TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF EQUIPMENT.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED VARIOUS FOOD ITEMS STORED IN GROCERY BAGS IN THE FREEZER AND COOLERS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.

Sep 24, 2021

License

No violations found.

100

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was La Penca De Jalisco last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at La Penca De Jalisco on file is from Mar 6, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at La Penca De Jalisco?

Across the inspection record, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at La Penca De Jalisco.

Has La Penca De Jalisco's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at La Penca De Jalisco have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at La Penca De Jalisco 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 Penca De Jalisco inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, La Penca De Jalisco is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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