CAFETERIA MARIANAO EXPRESS
4825 W ARMITAGE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
CAFETERIA MARIANAO EXPRESS has been inspected 3 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since January 10, 2025. The most recent inspection, on January 9, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Cleaning and sanitizing.
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.
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 January 9, 2026. For example:
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
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 once on January 10, 2025. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
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 once on January 10, 2025. For example:
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 13, 2025. For example:
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
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 2 times on January 9, 2026. For example:
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
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.
3 inspections
- Canvass
3 infractions
- 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
- OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR EXIT DOOR. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT FITTING SEAL AT ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS.
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- OBSERVED DRAINPIPE LEAKING UNDER HAND WASHING SINK IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPE.
- 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
- OBSERVED WASTE RECEPTACLE WITH NO LID FOR PROPER DISPOSAL OF SANITARY NAPKINS IN ALL-GENDER WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE.
- 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
- License Re-Inspection
1 infraction
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATES MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- License
4 infractions
- 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
- OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF VERIFIABLE HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
- 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
- OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND WASHING SINK IN BASEMENT PREP AREA AND WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
- 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
- FOUND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK NOT MAINTAINED; SINK IS LEAKING WHEN WATER FROM ONE COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO GET DRAINAGE SYSTEM SERVICED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATES MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
- 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
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