Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe

4255 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Apr 22, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Inspectors have visited Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe 10 times, with records going back to 2017. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 22, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near two violations per visit.

When inspectors have written things up, “food-contact surfaces” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe's latest score of 86 sits above the Chicago average of 81. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 22, 2026

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALL MOPS 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.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF AND ALONG THE LONG EDGE OF FRONT ENTRANCE AND REAR EXIT DOOR. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT-FITTING SEAL AT ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS.

Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled

Inspector notes: OBSERVED PLATES AND PANS THROUGHOUT NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL PANS, PLATES, AND BOWLS AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.

May 29, 2025

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

May 14, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 major violation.

View 2 violations

Hands clean & properly washed

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE CHANGING TASKS INCLUDING HANDLING CASH CHANGING GLOVES THEN MAKING A SMOOTHIE WITHOUT HANDWASHING IN BETWEEN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLOSED POCKET DOOR MAKING HANDSINK INACCESSIBLE TO FRONT PREPARATION SERVICE AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(c). NO CITATION ISSUED

Feb 20, 2024

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SUGAR OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOODS AND SPICES WITH COMMON NAME THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.

In-use utensils: properly stored

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE SCOOP LAYING ON TOP OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE ICE SCOOP HANDLE UP ABOVE ICE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINOR RESIDUE BUILD UP INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Jan 24, 2023

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BACON AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 48.9F INSIDE OF COOLER. ALSO OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE. SAUSAGE FOUND AT 50.1F, HAM FOUND AT 49.2F, EGGS FOUND AT 46.4F, RAW CHICKEN FOUND AT 44.9F AND RAW STEAK MEAT FOUND AT 45.3F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TCS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 41.0F OR BELOW INSIDE OF A COLD HOLDING UNIT. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED FOOD. FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS AT A COST OF $200.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINOR RESIDUE BUILD UP INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

May 12, 2022

Routine

No violations found.

100

Mar 24, 2021

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENTS AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Feb 10, 2020

Routine

No violations found.

100

Mar 14, 2019

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.

Nov 3, 2017

License

No violations found.

100

Show all 10 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe on file is from Apr 22, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “food-contact surfaces” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe.

Has Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Rica Arepa Venezuelan 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.

How often is Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Rica Arepa Venezuelan Cafe is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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