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ISTMO OAXACAN CUISINE

3231 N CLARK ST, CHICAGO, IL 60657 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

ISTMO OAXACAN CUISINE has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since July 22, 2024. The most recent inspection, on July 29, 2026, found no infractions.

5 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 August 2, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 July 22, 2024. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 11 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 30, 2025. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

  • 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 once on July 22, 2024. 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.

8 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED IN BASEMENT PREP SHELF FALLING OFF WALL, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
  3. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. License

    0 infractions

  6. Canvass

    0 infractions

  7. License Re-Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • 3-307.11 - OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD AT THE HAND SINK IN THE FRONT BAR AREA, AND OBSERVED NO LID OR METHOD OF COVERING OF ICE BIN IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SPLASH GUARD ON BOTH SIDES AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LID OR COVER FOR ICE BIN TO PREVENT AGAINST POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-204.12 - WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATED THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN BASEMENT AND THE ESPRESSO MACHINE/COFFEE MAKER ON THE RIGHT MOST SIDE IN THE BAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE AND PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-205.15 - OBSERVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IN UTILITY SINK AREA TO BE LEAKING WHEN FAUCET IS TURNED ON FROM BELOW. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN SYSTEM IN GOOD REPAIR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.114 OBSERVED UNUSED AND UNNECESSARY EQUIPMENT STORED IN THE BASEMENT (ONE NON-WORKING DRYER). INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT NOT NECESSARY TO OPERATION OF FACILITY.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-201.13 - OBSERVED FLOOR DRAINS IN BASEMENT, WALL BEHIND DRYER, WALL AROUND DRYER VENT, AND OPEN PIPE IN BASEMENT TO NOT BE SEALED AND FULLY ENCLOSED. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL AROUND ALL JUNCTURES TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • 6-202.11 - OBSERVED TWO (2) LIGHT BULBS IN THE EXHAUST HOOD IN MAIN PREPARATION AREA TO NOT HAVE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING OR SHATTER PROOF BULBS.
  8. License

    8 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AVAILABLE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE FRONT BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD AT THE HAND SINK IN THE FRONT BAR AREA, AND OBSERVED NO LID OR METHOD OF COVERING OF ICE BIN IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SPLASH GUARD ON BOTH SIDES AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LID OR COVER FOR ICE BIN TO PREVENT AGAINST POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CERAMIC/STONE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS PLATES, MUGS, AND SMALL BOWLS TO BE USED FOR CONTACT WITH FOOD WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION STATING THE UTENSIL IS LEAD-FREE OR CONTAINS ALLOWABLE LEVELS OF LEAD. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT FROM USE UNTIL APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION, 7-38-025. ALL CERAMIC/STONE UTENSILS WERE TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IN UTILITY SINK AREA TO BE LEAKING WHEN FAUCET IS TURNED ON FROM BELOW. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN SYSTEM IN GOOD REPAIR.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATED THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN BASEMENT AND THE ESPRESSO MACHINE/COFFEE MAKER ON THE RIGHT MOST SIDE IN THE BAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE AND PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FLOOR DRAINS IN BASEMENT, WALL BEHIND DRYER, WALL AROUND DRYER VENT, AND OPEN PIPE IN BASEMENT TO NOT BE SEALED AND FULLY ENCLOSED. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL AROUND ALL JUNCTURES TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED UNUSED AND UNNECESSARY EQUIPMENT STORED IN THE BASEMENT (ONE NON-WORKING DRYER) AND UNDER THE PORCH LEADING TO THE REAR TRASH AREA/PARKING LOT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT NOT NECESSARY TO OPERATION OF FACILITY.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED TWO (2) LIGHT BULBS IN THE EXHAUST HOOD IN MAIN PREPARATION AREA TO NOT HAVE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SHIELDING OR SHATTER PROOF BULBS.

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