Skip to content
Loading map…

HERO COFFEE

22 E JACKSON BLVD, CHICAGO, IL 60604 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

HERO COFFEE has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 22, 2017. The most recent inspection, on May 28, 2025, found no infractions.

3 of 8 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, Protecting food from contamination 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 25, 2020. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 14, 2021. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 October 29, 2018. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 October 29, 2018. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 October 29, 2018. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & 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.

8 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • Heavy dust build-up on ceiling fixture and conduits above food prep area. Instructed to clean and maintain.
  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • Heavy dust build-up noted all over ceiling fixture, shelves, wall light fixtures, instructed to clean and maintain.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • ROUGH BRICK WALLS BEHIND PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A DURABLE SMOOTH SURFACE THAT'S EASILY CLEANABLE
  5. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOUND EMPLOYEES WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL PERSONS SHALL WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS, SUCH AS HAIRNETS, BASEBALL CAPS, OR SUN VISORS, WHERE THE HAIR IS COVERED AND CONTAINED. MUSTACHE OR BEARD RESTRAINTS SHALL BE USED FOR ANY FACIAL HAIR EXCEEDING ONE (1) INCH IN LENGTH.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • FOUND CUTTING BOARD STAINED WITH DEEP GROOVES. INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR RE-PLACE. MUST MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND FLOOR DRAINS FILLED WITH A BUILD UP OF RESIDUE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
  6. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • ROUGH BRICK WALLS BEHIND PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A DURABLE SMOOTH SURFACE THAT'S EASILY CLEANABLE
  7. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • MANAGER NOT DEMONSTRATING KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH CODE
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER ON SITE WHILE HANDING TCS FOODS ( STEAMING MILK ) INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-012.
    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICY ON SITE, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO PROCEDURE ON SITE FOR VOMIT/ DIARRHEA CLEANUP, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • NO THERMOMETER IN BASEMENT'S DAIRY REFRIGERATOR, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • INADEQUATE INSECTS CONTROL, FOUND 50 LIVE FRUIT FLIES THROUGHOUT SMALL KITCHEN, INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE. PEST CONTROL SERVICE RECOMMENDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A)
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • WIPING CLOTH STORED IN A WAY THAT ATTRACT FLIES, INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN A CLOSED BIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • ROUGH BRICK WALLS BEHIND PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A DURABLE SMOOTH SURFACE THAT'S EASILY CLEANABLE
  8. License

    0 infractions

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website