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BRASA ROJA EXPRESS

4011 N ELSTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

BRASA ROJA EXPRESS has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since August 28, 2019. The most recent inspection, on June 4, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

1 of 7 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 4, 2025. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 14, 2021. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded once on November 3, 2023. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 5 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on June 4, 2025. For example: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

  • 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on June 4, 2025. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

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.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE CARDBOARD LINER UNDERNEATH PREP/COOKING TABLE (IN THE MAIN FLOOR) KITCHEN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN STORAGE RACKS WITH MOLD LIKE BUILD-UP INSIDE THE BASEMENT WALK-IN COOLER.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN WALL AND CEILING INSIDE THE BASEMENT WALK-IN COOLER.
  2. Canvass

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF BOTTOM OF REAR EXIT DOOR.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE MISSING KITCHEN HOOD FILTER ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR KITCHEN.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • FOUND LARGE MIXING BOWL IN BASEMENT PREP AREA UNABLE TO SUBMERGED IN A 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN DETAILED WASHING, RINSING AND SANITIZING PROCEDURE FOR FOOD-CONTACT EQUIPMENT THAT IS TOO LARGE TO BE SUBMERGED IN THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK FOR PROPER WASH, RINSE AND SANITIZE.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND HANDSINK IN BASEMENT PREP/DISHWASHING AREA
  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED A SLIGHT DEBRIS ACCUMULATION ENCRUSTED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE.MUST REMOVE DEBRIS, DETAIL CLEAN INSIDE ICE MACHINE/HAVE SERVICED AND MAINTAIN ICE MACHINE AT ALL TIMES.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE FIRST FLOOR AND BASEMENT PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILDUP ON STORAGE RACKS IN WALK-IN-COOLER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT BASE OF FAUCET AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN BASEMENT PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF BLACK SLIME ON CAULK AROUND SPLASH GUARD ON EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CAULK, CLEAN, SANITIZE, RE-CAULK, AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED UNUSED HOT HOLD UNIT IN UNUSED CHICKEN PREP AREA AT FRONT OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN PREMISES FREE OF UNNECESSARY ITEMS.
  6. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED DISCLOSURE STATEMENT MISSING ON BOTTOM OF MENU FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INCLUDE A DISCLOSURE STATING, "THESE FOOD ITEMS ARE COOKED TO ORDER." PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD IN KITCHEN PREP AREA WITH DARK STAINS AND DEEP GROOVES. MUST DETAIL CLEAN OR REPLACE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED TORN GASKETS IN PREP COOLER IN KITCHEN PREP AREA. MUST REPAIR.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED AIR CONDITIONING TUBE CONNECTED FROM THE CEILING STORED IN HAND WASHING SINK TO DRAIN WATER IN CHICKEN PREP AREA NEAR FRONT ENTRANCE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER WATER MUST BE DISPOSED IN FLOOR DRAIN.
  7. License

    1 infraction

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • BASEMENT PREP AREA 3-COMPARTMENT SINK STOPPERS NOT WORKING. MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS (X3) FOR SAID SINK.

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