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EXPRESS CAFE INC

3924 W DIVERSEY AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

EXPRESS CAFE INC has been inspected 3 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 13, 2017. The most recent inspection, on April 9, 2019, found no infractions.

1 of 3 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, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

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 2 times on December 6, 2018. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 2 times on December 6, 2018. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 December 6, 2018. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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 once on December 6, 2018. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

  • 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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 6, 2018. For example: IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

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

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    11 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURE ON THE PREMISES FOR VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CLEAN UP PROCEDURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 8. HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED
      • OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE NOT WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER HANDLING RAW MEAT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED REGARDING PROPER HANDWASHING PROCEDURES. PRIORITY 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 9. NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED
      • OBSERVED BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOOD BY A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WHILE MAKING A BURRITO. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS IS PROHIBITED AND TO USE OTHER MEANS SUCH AS TONGS, DELI TISSUE, OR GLOVES. PRIORITY 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED IMPROPER TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS INSIDE OF THE 2 DOOR PREP COOLER. OBSERVED COOKED RICE AT 44.6F, AND COOKED BEANS AT 45.3F. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 20# OF FOOD WORTH $10. PRIORITY 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY ON THE MENU FOR RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A DISCLOSURE OF WHICH FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED AND LINK THOSE FOODS TO A REMINDER STATEMENT WHICH STATES THAT EATING RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON THE PREP TABLES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO STORE WET WIPING CLOTHS IN A CONTAINER OF SANITIZING SOLUTION.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE AND USE OF IN-USE UTENSILS. OBSERVED BOWLS USED AS A SCOOP FOR RICE AND BEANS AND A SPOON INSIDE OF THE CONTAINER WITH THE HANDLE BELOW THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER UTENSIL WITH A HANDLE AND TO STORE THE HANDLE ABOVE THE TOP OF THE FOOD AND CONTAINER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED FROZEN MEATS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE FREEZER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS OR CONTAINERS.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE DEEP FRYER, VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS, POTATO CUTTER, AND PREP TABLES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
  3. License

    2 infractions

    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON WALL BEHIND UPRIGHT FREEZER ON BASEMENT.MUST REPAINT AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED OPENINGS INTO CEILING AND AROUND PIPES ON BASEMENT. MUST SEAL AND MAINTAIN.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN BASEMENT. MUST REMOVE CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AREA.

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