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BIG PHO

3737 W LAWRENCE AVE UNIT E, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

BIG PHO has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 27, 2011. The most recent inspection, on July 16, 2013, found no infractions.

1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food source, labelling and allergens and Food temperature control.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2013. For example: HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2013. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded once on November 21, 2012. For example: REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

    Recorded 13 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2013. For example: CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2013. For example: FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

4 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Complaint

    10 infractions

    • 6. HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.
      • POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES, OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLER COMING FROM OUTSIDE FROM REMOVING GARBAGE, RETURNING TO THE PREP AREA ONLY RINSED HIS HANDS INSIDE THE 3PART SINK, DRIED HIS HANDS WITH A SOILED CLEANING TOWEL AND RETURNING TO PREP POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS. INSTRUCTED HAND MUST BE WASHED INSIDE THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK WITH WARM WATER AND SOAP AFTER ANY CONTAMINATING CONDITION. THE WASHING OF HANDS INSIDE A UTENSIL WASHING SINK IS PROHIBITED. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED, 7-38-010(A).
    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • PREP FOODS INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER NOT LABELED, INSTRUCTED TO DATE/LABEL.
    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST DEFROST THE REACH IN FREEZER WITH HEAVY ICE ACCUMULATED AND MAINTAIN. MISSING 3 DRAIN STOPPERS FOR THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE. CAULKING AROUND THE WASHBOWL SINK IN BOTH WASHROOM WORN OUT. MUST RE CAULK AND MAINTAIN.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • EXCESSIVE GREASE BUILD-UP AND FOOD DEBRIS ON EQUIPMENT, MUST CLEAN/SANITIZE; SLICER, COOKING EQUIPMENT, BOTTOM PANELS OF PREP TABLES, COOLERS, EXTERIOR OF DRIED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS, MICROWAVE OVEN, AND REMOVE FOIL COVERING ON SHELVING UNITS, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE ON FLOORS, INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS, UNDER, BEHIND EQUIPMENT AT CORNERS AND ALONG WALLS THRU-OUT THE KITCHEN, FRONT STORAGE AREA AND CLOSET; ALSO MUST REPLACE BROKEN AND MISSING FLOOR TILE THRU-OUT THE KITCHEN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • FAN COVER WITH HEAVY DUST ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE MENS WASHROOM. MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL AND MAINTAIN. RUSTY AND DAMAGED EXIT DOOR. MUST REMOVE RUST AND REPAIR. MUST SCRAPE PEELING PAINT ON THE WALLS BESIDE THE EXIT DOOR.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • INSTRUCTED TO SEAL/RE-PAINT GREASE TRAP UNDER 3PART SINK.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • : ALL EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOODS IN THE PREP AREA MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT TO CONFINE THE HAIR.
    • 43. FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORED ICE SCOOPS AND CLEANING TOWELS.
  3. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST DEFROST THE REACH IN FREEZER WITH HEAVY ICE ACCUMULATED AND MAINTAIN. MISSING 3 DRAIN STOPPERS FOR THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE. CAULKING AROUND THE WASHBOWL SINK IN BOTH WASHROOM WORN OUT. MUST RE CAULK AND MAINTAIN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • MUST ELEAVATE ALL POTS WITH SOUP 6" OFF THE FLOOR INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER. MUST REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD BEING USED AS A FLOOR LINER INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER AND IN FRONT OF THE COOKING AREAS.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • FAN COVER WITH HEAVY DUST ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE MENS WASHROOM. MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL AND MAINTAIN. RUSTY AND DAMAGED EXIT DOOR. MUST REMOVE RUST AND REPAIR. MUST SCRAPE PEELING PAINT ON THE WALLS BESIDE THE EXIT DOOR.
    • 37. TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS
      • MUST RE ADJUST THE SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON BOTH WASHROOM,(NOT CLOSING ALL THE WAY).
    • 40. REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS
      • MISSING THERMOMETER INSIDE THE 2 DOOR REACH IN COOLER. MUT PROVIDE AND MUST BE VISIBLE.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • ALL EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOODS IN THE PREP AREA MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT TO CONFINE THE HAIR.
  4. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • All food not stored in the original container shall be stored in properly labeled containers. PREP FOODS INSIDE WALK IN COOLER NOT LABELED, MUST LABEL AND MAINTAIN.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair. MUST REPLACE BROKEN GASKETS ON THE DOORS OF,TWO DOORS REACH IN FREEZER AND ONE DOOR PREP REACH IN COOLER IN KITCHEN.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage. THE FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN, MUST CLEAN/SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN; COOLERS, FREEZER, COOKING EQUIPMENT, BOTTOM PANELS OF PREP TABLES, EXTERIOR OF DRIED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS, AND MICROWAVE OVEN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. MUST REPLACE BROKEN FLOOR TILES THRU-OUT THE KITCHEN AND CLEAN FLOORS; UNDER, BEHIND EQUIPMENT AT CORNERS AND ALONG WALLS IN KITCHEN AND STORAGE AREA.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned. MUST REPLACE DAMAGED CEILING PANELS, CLEAN AND REPAINT WALLS AND REPLACE BASEBOARDS AT BOTTOM OF WALLS IN KITCHEN.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • Ventilation: All plumbing fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, washbasins, etc., must be adequately trapped, vented, and re-vented and properly connected to the sewer in accordance with the plumbing chapter of the Municipal Code of Chicago and the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health. MUST REPAIR LEAKING PIPE UNDER 2PART SINK IN KITCHEN.
    • 43. FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED
      • Between uses and during storage ice dispensing utensils and ice receptacles shall be stored in a way that protects them from contamination. CLEANING TOWELS MUST BE PROPERLY STORED.

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