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Sara's Cocina

2723 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Aug 27, 2025
86
Score
Low Risk

Public records show three inspections at Sara's Cocina stretching back to 2023. The most recent visit was on Aug 27, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.

Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around three violations lately and about eight violations before that.

Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Sara's Cocina is doing better than most peers. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 27, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN GREASE BUILD UP FROM INTERIOR OF FRYER CABINET.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE A HOOKING SYSTEM TO HANG UP WET MOPS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BRICK WALL WITH HEAVY CALCIUM BUILD UP /NOT SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE IN REAR DRY FOOD STORAGE AREA MUST PROVIDE A SEALANT OR PAINT.
55
86
May 9, 2024
License
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLUTTER IN THE REAR STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DECLUTTER STORAGE ROOM TO AVOID PEST HARBORAGE.
55
95
Aug 18, 2023
License
3 critical violations. 8 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 16 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 4 REFRIGERATORS NOT PLUGGED IN. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN REFRIGERATORS SO THAT THEY MAINTAIN AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT OR BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
33
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: THE OBSERVED LOW-TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE HAS NOT BEEN CONNECTED TO CHEMICALS YET. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN MACHINE SO THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF DELIVERING SANITIZER AT A CONCENTRATION BETWEEN 50-100PPM OF CHLORINE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025. NO CITATION ISSUED.
16
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT SO THAT ALL SINKS CAN PROVIDE HOT RUNNING WATER UNDER PRESSURE AT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 100-120F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
50
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK IN BAR RENDERED INACCESSIBLE BY NOT CONNECTED TO DRAIN PIPE. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
10
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS IN THE DOWNSTAIRS EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
10
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO GARBAGE DUMPSTERS ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO CONTRACT WITH A GARBAGE DISPOSAL SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(B). NO CITATION ISSUED.
54
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO KIT AND PROCEDURE ON SITE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA. LEFT ONE-PAGER AND INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROCEDURE AND KIT CONTAINING ALL NECESSARY ITEMS, INCLUDING A SANITIZER RATED AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
36
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO CONTRACT WITH A LICENSED PEST CONTROL PROVIDER, RECEIVE SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
38
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
48
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM AND BASEMENT UNISEX EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
53
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL PREP COOLERS WITHOUT THERMOMETERS INSIDE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
36
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO DOOR ON BASEMENT TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SELF-CLOSING DOOR.
53
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TORN GASKET ON 2 DOOR COOLER LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
47
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINKS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT ALL EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINKS AND TOILET ROOM WASHBOWLS.
10
22

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sara's Cocina last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Sara's Cocina on file is from Aug 27, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Sara's Cocina?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Sara's Cocina.

Has Sara's Cocina's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Sara's Cocina 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 Sara's Cocina 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 Sara's Cocina inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Sara's Cocina is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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La Sandwichera
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→ All locations in Chicago → Mexican / Latin restaurants in Chicago
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