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LA ESQUINA DEL SABOR INC.

4224 W 31ST ST, CHICAGO, IL 60623 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

LA ESQUINA DEL SABOR INC. has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since August 28, 2018. The most recent inspection, on November 16, 2023, found no infractions.

2 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: Protecting food from contamination, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food source, labelling and allergens.

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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 25, 2022. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

  • 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 May 3, 2019. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 2 times on May 3, 2019. For example: PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 3, 2022. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 16, 2023. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFICATE FOR FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEE ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO DIRECT EMPLOYEE TO OBTAIN FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF DEBRIS ON FLOORS AND IN CORNERS IN UPSTAIRS PREP AREA, AND DISHWASHING AREA, AS WELL IN BASEMENT AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF GREASE ON FILTERS IN VENTILATION SYSTEM OVER COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY ON MENU'S(IN-HOUSE, AND TO-GO), NOR DISCLOSURE ASTERISK FOR ITEMS SERVED UNDERCOOKED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO ADD ASTERISK TO ALL FOODS SERVED UNDER COOKED (EGGS, HAMBURGERS), PLACE DISCLOSURE ON MENU, AND ADD REMINDER ON INSIDE OF MENU TO DISLOSE ALL ITEMS SERVED UNDER COOKED TO CONSUMERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF DEBRIS ON FLOORS AND IN CORNERS IN UPSTAIRS PREP AREA, AND DISHWASHING AREA, AS WELL IN BASEMENT AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF GREASE ON FILTERS IN VENTILATION SYSTEM OVER COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Canvass

    0 infractions

  6. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • MUST INSTALL CLEANABLE SPLASH GUARD ALONGSIDE HANDSINK IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN OR REMOVE STORED KITCHENWARE ON ROLLING CART NEAR SAID SINK.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED HANDSINK IN FRONT PREP AREA SLOW DRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED GARBAGE RECEPTACLE INSIDE TOILET ROOM WITHOUT COVERING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
  7. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • MISSING COMPLETE LIST OF SUPPLIES ON PROCEDURE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
    • 23. PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION
      • 3.501.17(A) VARIETY OF FOOD NOT PROPERLY LABELED, DATED (COOKED BEEF, RICE, BEANS.) REFRIGERATED, READY TO EAT TCS FOOD PREPARED AND HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS SHALL BE CLEARLY MARKED TO INDICATE THE DAY OR DATE BY WHICH FOOD SHALL BE SOLD OR DISCARDED FOR A MAXIMUM OF 7 DAYS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • MISSING COMMON NAME ON DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS (RICE, FLOUR, ETC). INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOOD HANDLER MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTD TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION.
  8. License

    4 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • 2-201.11 OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY PROVIDED 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
      • 2-501.11 OBSERVED NO PROCEDURE/PLAN FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A PROCEDURE/PLAN AND TO MAINTAIN ANY APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • 3-603.11 - MUST PROVIDE DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER RISK OF CONSUMING SUCH FOODS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • PA 100-0367: OBSERVED FACILITY FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS WITHOUT REQUIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION. MUST OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.

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