Pochos
Last inspected: Jul 3, 2025
95
Score
Inspectors have visited Pochos five times, with records going back to 2023. The most recent visit was on Jul 3, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around six violations to closer to one violation per visit.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three 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.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 3, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE INTERIOR SIDES OF THE ICE MACHINE.
16
95
Jun 4, 2024
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-601.11(C) OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYER WITH MINOR ACCUMULATED GREASE DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11 OBSERVED THE COVING DEATTACHED FROM THE WALL UNDER A DRY STORAGE SHELF IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. 6-201.11 OBSERVED THE SPLASH GUARD DEATTACHED AT THE HAND WASHING SINK LOCATED IN THE FOOD PREP AREA ACROSS FROM THE COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
55
90
May 28, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
No bare hand contact with rte food or a pre-approved alternative procedure properly allowed
Inspector notes: 3-301.11(B) OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLER SLICING READY-TO-EAT AVOCADO WITH HIS BARE HANDS. INSTRUCTED NEVER TO ALLOW BARE-HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. INSTEAD, USE TONGS, SPOONS, OR FOOD-GRADE DISPOSABLE GLOVES TO HANDLE ALL READY-TO-EAT FOODS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-010.
9
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: 2-101.11 OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS (EGGS, BEEF) ARE BEING PREPARED HANDLED AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. INSTRUCTED A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES THE FACILITY IS OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
2
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: 5-501.15 OBSERVED AN OVERFLOWING OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTER WITH BOXES ON THE GROUND AROUND THE OUTSIDE DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO NEVER ALLOW OUTSIDE DUMPSTER TO OVERFLOW AND CLEAN THE GROUND AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(B).
54
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: 6-301.11 OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING CLEANSER AVAILABLE AT THE REAR DISHWASHING AND REAR FOOD PREP AREA HAND WASHING SINKS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HAND WASHING CLEANSER AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).
10
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: 2-101.11 OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE ON SITE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED A PERSON IN CHARGE MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES THE FACILITY IS OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012.
1
Gloves used properly
Inspector notes: 3-304.15 OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLER WITH ONE FOOD-GRADE DISPOSABLE GLOVE ON AND USING THAT HAND TO HANDLE A KNIFE INSTEAD OF HANDLING READY-TO-EAT FOODS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REVIEW PROPER GLOVE USE WITH ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
46
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-601.11(C) OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYER WITH MINOR ACCUMULATED GREASE DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11 OBSERVED THE COVING DEATTACHED FROM THE WALL UNDER A DRY STORAGE SHELF IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11 OBSERVED THE SPLASH GUARD DEATTACHED AT THE HAND WASHING SINK LOCATED IN THE FOOD PREP AREA ACROSS FROM THE COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
55
47
Apr 25, 2023
Routine
4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: FOUND IN-HOUSE PICKLES WITH A 3/7 PREPARED-BY DATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE DISCARD DATE FOR ALL TCS FOODS HELD FOR OVER 24 HOURS. THE MANAGER DISCARDS 6 LBS OF PICKLES AT $15. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
23
Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp
Inspector notes: FOUND HOUSEMADE PICKLES ON SITE. A RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT SHALL OBTAIN AN APPROVED VARIANCE FROM CDPH BEFORE FERMENTING FOOD. HOUSE MADE PICKLES WERE DISCARDED. INSTRUCTED OPERATOR TO NO LONGER PREPARE, SELL, OR SERVE SAID FOOD ITEM UNTIL HACCP AND A VARIANCE ARE APPROVED BY CDPH. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATIONS ISSUED. FOOD DISCARDED.
29
Variance obtained for specialized processing methods
Inspector notes: FOUND NO HACCP OR VARIANCE ON SITE. APPROVED HACCP AND VARIANCE IS REQUIRED FOR FERMENTING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED FOOD DISCARDED.
32
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: FOUND FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT A RECORD OF SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY. INSTRUCTED MANAGERS TO PROVIDE A VERIFIABLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND ACTIVITIES TO DISEASES THAT ARE TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD TO THE PIC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
3
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: FOUND NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN DISH WASHING AREA. HANDWASHING SIGNAGE MUST BE POSTED AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES.
10
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: FOUND NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
57
61
Feb 10, 2023
License
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEWAGE PIPES IN BASEMENT OVER SINGLE USE FOOD CONTAINERS (FOOD CONTAINER, FOOD SERVICE CUPS). UTENSILS AND SINGLE USE ARTICLES MUST BE STORED WHERE THEY ARE NOT EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE SINGLE USE ARTICLES FROM UNDER SEWAGE PIPES. -
45
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND NO BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT COFFEE MACHINE. A BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MUST BE LOCATED, SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. -
51
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: FOUND TWO MISSING LIGHT BULBS IN FOOD PREP AREA UNDER THE HOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FOUND NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALLEGREN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS.
58
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pochos last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Pochos on file is from Jul 3, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Pochos?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Pochos.
Has Pochos' inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Pochos have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Pochos 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 Pochos inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Pochos is inspected around two times per year on average.
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