Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant
Last inspected: May 27, 2025
82
Score
Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant appears in inspection records six times, starting in 2021. The latest inspection on file is from May 27, 2025. 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 three violations per visit.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up six times.
Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, this is about average. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 27, 2025
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FLOOR BELOW THE DEEP FRYERS AND OVEN IN THE REAR PREP AREA TO BE SOILED WITH GREASE AND TRASH BUILD UP OF LOOSE ALUMINUM FOIL AND PLASTIC GOODS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOOR AND MAINTAIN FREE OF EXCESSIVE BUILD UP. OBSERVED THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN COOLER AT REAR TO BE HEAVILY SOILED WITH LOOSE FOOD DEBRIS, VEGETABLES, AND TRASH THROUGHOUT THE FLOOR BELOW SHELVES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FLOORS FREE OF EXCESSIVE TRASH BUILD UP.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO (2) WALL PANELS IN THE BASEMENT DRY STORAGE AREA TO BE LOOSE AND ON THE FLOOR, EXPOSING THE STUDS AND CAVITIES BEHIND WALL. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REATTACH AND ENSURE ALL STUDS IN FACILITY ARE ENCLOSED.
55
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ITEMS (DRINKS AND BOXES OF FOOD) STORED IN THE FLOOR BELOW THE PREP COOLERS IN THE FRONT BAR AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.
39
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN THE FRONT PREPARATION AREA AND THE HAND SINK IN THE REAR PREP AREA TO BE VERY SLOW DRAINING AT TIME OF INSPECTION. HAND SINK IS STILL FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED THE FRONT HAND SINK IN THE BAR AREA TO HAVE LOW HOT WATER PRESSURE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR WITH ADEQUATE WATER PRESSURE. OBSERVED A LEAK FROM THE BASE OF THE FAUCET OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE FRONT BAR. WATER LEAKS HEAVILY WHEN WATER IS TURNED ON AND USED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE LEAKING FAUCET AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.
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82
Apr 25, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK MISSING STOPPERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE STOPPERS FOR BAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: BASEMENT TOOL ROOM FLOOR CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF FLOOR OR REMOVE.
55
90
Jun 14, 2023
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: FOOD CONTAINERS STORED UNDER WASTE PIPE IN BASEMENT PREP AREA.SAID PIPES MUST BE ENCASED OR RELOCATE ITEMS. SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE
39
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: A BUCKET WITH SANITIZE SOLUTION AND LINEN MUST BE PROVIDED AT PREP TABLES
41
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: CUTTING BOARD AT BAR AREA WITH DARK STAINS AND DEEP CUTS,MUST REFINISH OR REPLACE SAID CUTTING BOARD
47
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES MUST BE PROVIDED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS
58
82
Jun 7, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOOR AT REAR DINIG AREA NOT EASILY CLEANABLE. ROUGH SURFACE. REPAIR ISSUE TO A SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL
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95
Feb 5, 2021
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE CANNOT BE LOCATED FOR THE FRONT COFFEE MAKERS (2) TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. MUST PROVIDE.----- MISSING GREASE TRAP AT THE FRONT PREP THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: EXPANDING SPRAY FOAM BEING USED AS SEALANT SURROUNDING PIPING IN THE CEILING AND WALLS OF THE KITCHEN. MUST REMOVE TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.----MUST PROVIDE A SMOOTH CLEANABLE CEILING IN THE FOLLOWING BASEMENT AREAS: ABOVE THE REACH-IN COOLER AND ANY DRY FOOD STORAGE AREAS. INSIDE THE BASEMENT WALK-IN COOLER. RAW WOODEN DOORWAY AND ALL OPEN SEAMS AND CREVICES INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER MUST BE SEALED, SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
90
Feb 3, 2021
License
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER ON SITE FOR MEASURING HOT AND COLD FOOD TEMPERATURES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
36
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 AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD OF CONSUMING SUCH FOOD. MUST DISCLOSE AND REMIND OF SUCH ITEMS ON THE PRINTED MENU. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
25
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: FRONT EXIT/ENTRANCE DOOR WITH OPEN GAP ON THE BOTTOM THRESHOLD OF THE DOOR. RODENT PROOF STRIP NOT COMPLETE. ALSO, DOOR TO HALLWAY LEADING TO AN UNSECURED EXIT DOOR WITH OPEN GAP ON BOTTOM THRESHOLD. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT FITTING SEAL ON DOOR.
38
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE PAPER TOWELS AS LINER FOR SHELVING.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: MISSING GREASE TRAP AT THE FRONT PREP THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE CANNOT BE LOCATED FOR THE FRONT COFFEE MAKERS (2) TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. MUST PROVIDE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: EXPANDING SPRAY FOAM BEING USED AS SEALANT SURROUNDING PIPING IN THE CEILING AND WALLS OF THE KITCHEN. MUST REMOVE TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.----MUST PROVIDE A SMOOTH CLEANABLE CEILING IN THE FOLLOWING BASEMENT AREAS: ABOVE THE REACH-IN COOLER AND ANY DRY FOOD STORAGE AREAS. INSIDE THE BASEMENT WALK-IN COOLER. RAW WOODEN DOORWAY AND ALL OPEN SEAMS AND CREVICES INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER MUST BE SEALED, SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant on file is from May 27, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant.
Has Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant 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 Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Rica Arepa Venezuelan Restaurant is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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