Skip to content
Loading map…

HERO COFFEE

439 S DEARBORN ST, CHICAGO, IL 60605 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

HERO COFFEE has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 19, 2017. The most recent inspection, on July 14, 2025, found no infractions.

3 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: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food source, labelling and allergens.

The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 21, 2025. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 May 21, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 once on November 26, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 6 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on May 21, 2025. For example: GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

  • 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 June 28, 2022. For example: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & 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.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING FOOD.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED DEBRIS AROUND DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2608072 ISSUED ON 11/26/2024 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED #51:FOUND NO FOOD PREP SINK AT FRONT PREP COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO PREVENT FOOD HANDLERS FROM USING HANDWASHING SINK AS A FOOD PREP SINK
  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER RINSE COFFEE CANISTER AT HAND WASHING SINK AT COFFEE BAR. A HANDWASHING SINK MAY NOT BE USED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN HAND WASHING. INSTRUCTED FOOD HANDLER TO ONLY USE HAND WASHING SINK FOR HANDWASHING PURPOSES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • FOUND SUGAR IN BULK CONTAINER LOCATED AT COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ANY FOOD ITEMS TAKEN OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITH A COMMON NAME.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND NO FOOD PREP SINK AT FRONT PREP COFFEE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO PREVENT FOOD HANDLERS FROM USING HANDWASHING SINK AS A FOOD PREP SINK.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • FOUND INADEQUATE LIGHTING OVER 3 COMP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.
  5. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO MANAGER ON SITE AT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL. MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE AT TIME OF ARRIVAL WHILE TCS FOODS SUCH AS MILK AND EGGS WERE BEING SERVED. A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED UNSEALED WOODEN SHELVING IN FRONT SERVICE LINE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PAINT OR SEAL ALL WOOD.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILING IN BACK PREP AREA NEAR REAR DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE MISSING TILES.
  6. Canvass

    0 infractions

  7. License

    5 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • THE CUTTING BOARD IN THE REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA HAS DEEP, DARK GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO SAND OR REPLACE IT. MUST MAINTAIN A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. -THE FRONT HAND SINK NEEDS TO BE RECAULKED. INSTRUCTED TO RECAULK AND MAINTAIN. -THE TOP DOOR ON THE REAR REACH IN COOLER IS IN POOR CONDITION (TAPED UP). INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • THE FLOORS IN THE CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND THE SINKS AND COOLERS HAVE DIRT AND FOOD ON THEM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • FOUND THE WALLS AROUND THE SINKS, COOLERS AND STORAGE RACKS IN THE REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA WITH FOOD, DUST AND DIRT. ALSO, THE VENTS IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS HAVE THICK DIRT/DUST. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • THE TOILET ROOM IN THE REAR IS BEING USED FOR STORAGE IS CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED TO ORGANIZE AND MAINTAIN THE AREA.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • THE FOOD HANDLERS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA ARE NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THEM WEAR THEM WHILE IN THE FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. MAINTAIN SAME.

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website