Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago
Last inspected: Jun 5, 2025
67
Score
Going back to 2023, Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago has four inspections in the public record. The most recent report on file is from Jun 5, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around eight violations, down from roughly 11 violations earlier in the record.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
By comparison, the average Chicago facility scores 81, putting Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago on the weaker side. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jun 5, 2025
Routine
8 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRAINPIPE LEAKING UNDER HAND WASHING SINK IN MAIN PREP AREA ADJACENT TO DRY STORAGE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MOP IN A POSITION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW TO DRY PROPERLY AND PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. MUST STORE MOP AFTER USE IN A MOUNTED POSITION THAT ALLOWS FOR AIR-DRYING WITHOUT SOILING AND PEST HARBORAGING.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSONS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLETION OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.
58
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE HAND SINKS WITHOUT HANDWASHING SIGNAGE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD STORED IN CONTAINERS IN ALL THE COOLERS, WALK IN COOLER AND DRY STORAGE WITHOUT PROPER LABELING OF NAME. INSTRUCTED TO PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A LABEL REFLECTING THE FOOD ITEM'S NAME WHEN FOOD HAS BEEN REMOVE FROM ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
37
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES IN BAR PREP AREA BEHIND BEER COOLER, IN UTILITY ROOM, AND UNDER DRY STORAGE RACK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE, DETAIL CLEAN, AND SANITZE AFFECTED AREAS.
38
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RAW WOOD SHELVES, SURFACES, AND FIXTURES. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OR PAINT TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
47
67
May 23, 2024
Reinspection
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: : 6-202.15--- OUTER OPENING NOT PROTECTED AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE/EXIT DOUBLE DOORS. OPEN 1/4 INCH GAP ON ONE EXTERIOR DOOR AND GAP UNDER ONE INTERIOR DOOR. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT FITTING SEAL ON ALL DOORS.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: 3-307.11-- MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN THE DISH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND THE HAND WASHING SINK.
39
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: 4-903.11(A;C)--- ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE MOP SINK CLOSET MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS REMOVED TO PREVENT PEST HARBORING.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-101.19---- NOTED PEELING PLASTIC ON THE SIDE OF THE KITCHEN TALL REACH-IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE PEELING PLASTIC.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-602.13---- EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE BOTTOM SHELVING OF THE KITCHEN METAL PREP TABLE. MUST REMOVE RUST TO MAKE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-205.15---- SPRAYER ARM AT THE DISH AREA SCRAPER SINK FALLS BELOW THE WATER BASIN LINE OF THE SINK. MUST REPAIR TO HANG ABOVE THE BASIN LINE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11--- WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES IN THE MOP CLOSET ABOVE THE MOP SINK. MUST REPLACE.-----HOLE IN THE CORNER WALL UNDER THE KITCHEN THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST SEAL.
55
70
May 16, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 2 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 15 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NO HOT WATER AVAILABLE AT THE KITCHEN/DISH HAND WASHING SINK. HOT HANDLE STRIPPED UNABLE TO TURN ON OR OFF HOT WATER. WATER TEMPERATURE NOTED AT 58.3F. MUST PROVIDE HOT WATER AT HAND SINK WITH A FUNCTIONAL HANDLE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.
10
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER FOOD TEMPERATURES IN THE COOKS LINE TALL REACH-IN COOLER SLICED SAUSAGE AT 44.1, REDUCED SAUCE AT 49.3F, DATE STUFFED BACON AT 46.5 AND 47.8F. ALL FOODS DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
22
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: MENU DOES NOT DISCLOSE AND INFORM CONSUMERS THE SPECIFIC MENU ITEMS THAT ARE RAW OR UNDERCOOKED SUCH AS EGGS. MUST DISCLOSE AND REMIND CUSTOMERS OF SUCH FOOD ON BOTH THE PRINTED AND VIRTUAL MENUS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
25
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE/AVAILABLE THAT IS VERIFIED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
3
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED WITH THE PRODUCT COMMON NAME.
37
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OUTER OPENING NOT PROTECTED AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE/EXIT DOUBLE DOORS. OPEN 1/4 INCH GAP ON ONE EXTERIOR DOOR AND GAP UNDER ONE INTERIOR DOOR. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT FITTING SEAL ON ALL DOORS.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN THE DISH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND THE HAND WASHING SINK.
39
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: ALL PRE-SET TABLEWARES MUST BE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.
44
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE MOP SINK CLOSET MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS REMOVED TO PREVENT PEST HARBORING.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED PEELING PLASTIC ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE METAL THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AT THE BAR AREA AND SIDE OF THE KITCHEN TALL REACH-IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE PEELING PLASTIC.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE SINK STOPPERS FOR THE KITCHEN/DISH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE BOTTOM SHELVING OF THE KITCHEN METAL PREP TABLE. MUST REMOVE RUST TO MAKE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: SPRAYER ARM AT THE DISH AREA SCRAPER SINK FALLS BELOW THE WATER BASIN LINE OF THE SINK. MUST REPAIR TO HANG ABOVE THE BASIN LINE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES IN THE MOP CLOSET ABOVE THE MOP SINK. MUST REPLACE.----FLOORS UNDER AND AROUND THE KITCHEN THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND GREASE TRAP WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.----HOLE IN THE CORNER WALL UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST SEAL.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED SOILED MOPS IMPROPERLY STORED IN THE MOP CLOSET. MUST STORE INVERTED IN THE UTILITY SERVICE SINK.
55
35
Jun 27, 2023
License
No violations found.
100
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago on file is from Jun 5, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago.
Has Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago have averaged around eight violations per visit, down from roughly 11 earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago 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 Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Little Madrid Tapas-Cafe Chicago is inspected around two times per year on average.
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