Little Village Cafe
Last inspected: May 13, 2025
86
Score
Going back to 2024, Little Village Cafe has three inspections in the public record. On May 13, 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.
Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around three violations compared to roughly eight violations earlier on.
Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged six times.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 13, 2025
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.114 - OBSERVED CLOSET IN MOP SINK TO BE FULL OF TRASH AND STACKED ITEMS THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ORGANIZE AND REMOVE ALL ITEMS NOT NECESSARY TO FUNCTION OF FACILITY.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.12 - OBSERVED FLOOR IN THE REAR MOP SINK CLOSET TO BE FULL OF DEBRIS, TRASH, AND LOOSE ROCKS AND DRY WALL ALONG THE FLOOR AND BELOW THE SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOOR IN REAR CLOSET.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 4-202.18 - OBSERVDE THE FILTERS IN THE EXHAUST HOOD ABOVE THE GRILL AREA TO BE MISSING MULTIPLE FILTERS ON THE LEFT SIDE, AND ONE FILTER ON THE RIGHT SIDE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE/PROVIDE FILTERS IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ABOVE THE GRILL.
56
86
May 6, 2025
Routine
3 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 03/14/2024, REPORT #2590999: #47) Observed unfinished wooden shelves in front prep area. All surfaces must be smooth and easily cleanable. Please provide smooth, cleanable, and non porous surface for all shelves. #55) Observed no backflow prevention device at the mop sink located in the rear closet. Please provide a backflow prevention device. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION: 7-42-090, CITATION ISSUED.
60
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO MAINTAINED PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK CONTAINING RECENT SERVICE REPORTS OR THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY'S ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH LICENSE NUMBER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A MAINTAINED PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK CONTAINING ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION AS SPECIFIED IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION, 7-38-020(c). CITATION ISSUED.
38
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SANITIZING TEST STRIPS (CHLORINE OR QUAT) AVAILABLE FOR SANITIZER USED AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL SANITIZING CHEMICALS USED THROUGHOUT FACILITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION, 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED. MANAGER PROVIDED SANITIZER TEST STRIPS BY END OF INSPECTION.
48
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BOXES OF FOOD ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.
39
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES AND COUNTERS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE ALL WET WIPING CLOTHES IN APPROPRIATE SANITIZER SOLUTION IN BETWEEN USE.
41
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLOSET IN MOP SINK TO BE FULL OF TRASH AND STACKED ITEMS THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ORGANIZE AND REMOVE ALL ITEMS NOT NECESSARY TO FUNCTION OF FACILITY.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR IN THE REAR MOP SINK CLOSET TO BE FULL OF DEBRIS, TRASH, AND LOOSE ROCKS AND DRY WALL ALONG THE FLOOR AND BELOW THE SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOOR IN REAR CLOSET.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FAN IN THE MOP SINK CLOSET TO BE NOT FUNCTIONAL AND WORKING WITH A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL WHEN TURNED ON. OBSERVED THE ELECTRICAL PANEL IN THE CLOSET IN MOP SINK TO BE FULLY OFF THE WALL AND NOT ATTACHED TO THE WALL. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND REPLACE PANEL AND NOT FUNCTIONAL CEILING FAN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVDE THE FILTERS IN THE EXHAUST HOOD ABOVE THE GRILL AREA TO BE MISSING MULTIPLE FILTERS ON THE LEFT SIDE, AND ONE FILTER ON THE RIGHT SIDE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE/PROVIDE FILTERS IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ABOVE THE GRILL.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL EMPLOYEES COMPLETE AND MAINTAIN PROPER FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AS WELL AS REQUIRING ALL NEW EMPLOYEES TO COMPLETE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ANY CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS COMPLETE AND MAINTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
50
Mar 14, 2024
License
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: Observed no employee health policy on premise at time of inspection. Manager must provide one for each new employee. Priorty foundation violation 7-38-010.
3
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Observed missing thermometer in standing double door cooler and small glass door cooler. Must provide thermometer for interior of each cooler.
36
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: Observed unfinished wooden shelves in front prep area. All surfaces must be smooth and easily cleanable. Please provide smooth, cleanable, and non porous surface for all shelves.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: Observed no backflow prevention device at the mop sink located in the rear closet. Please provide a backflow prevention device.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: Observed missing floor drain cover in the rear area of prep near the hot water tank. Provide cover for all floor drains.
55
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Little Village Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Little Village Cafe on file is from May 13, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Little Village Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Little Village Cafe.
Has Little Village Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Little Village Cafe have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Little Village Cafe 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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