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LA MEXICANA GRILL LLC

3731 N CLARK ST, CHICAGO, IL 60613 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

LA MEXICANA GRILL LLC has been inspected 11 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 26, 2019. The most recent inspection, on December 9, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

2 of 11 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Food source, labelling and allergens and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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.

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 9, 2025. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 7, 2025. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 July 30, 2024. For example: PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

  • 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 30, 2024. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 July 26, 2019. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

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.

11 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER NEEDED AT THE 2-DOOR SAUCE COOLER LOCATED IN REAR FRONT PREP AREA. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA DRAINING SLOW. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DAMAGED AND BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN REAR PREP AREA/DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN FACILITY IN A GOOD REPAIR.
  2. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • MUST PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR ALONG WALLBASE IN REAR FOOD PREPARATION AREA/DISHWASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 6. PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
      • NOTED COOKS OPEN BEVERAGE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. MUST HAVE COVERED CONTAINER OUTSIDE THE FOOD PREP AREA.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • NOTED THE PLASTIC ICE SHOOT ON THE SODA DISPENSING SYSTEM IN NEED OF CLEANING. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    0 infractions

  5. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NOT IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITHOUT PROPER LABELING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • OBSERVED CLEAN KITCHENWARE (SAUCEPANS) ON THE DRYING RACK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SAID ITEMS
  6. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED IMPROPER TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS RANGING FROM 50.3-54.0 F INSIDE OF A COLD HOLDING UNIT IN THE FRONT PREP AREA, SUCH AS 2LBS OF SOUR CREAM(54.0 F) AND 10LBS OF TRES LECHES CAKES (50.3 F). ALL SAID ITEMS WERE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED BY THE MANAGER ON SITE AND DENATURED. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING FOODS AT 41.0F OR BELOW.APPX.12LBS $30.00. PRIORITY 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED
    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • OBSERVED COLD HOLDING UNIT AT AN IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 55.4F HOLDING TCS FOODS (TRES LECHES CAKE AND SOUR CREAM) INSIDE DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD ALL TCS FOODS AND DO NOT USE REACH IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED COOL HOLDING UNIT MUST MAINTAIN A PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. COLD HOLDING UNIT TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION BY THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND MAY NOT BE USED UNTIL THE COLD HOLDING UNIT IS RE-INSPECTED BY CDPH AND MAINTAINING A PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE FOR 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NOT IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITHOUT PROPER LABELING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • OBSERVED CLEAN KITCHENWARE (SAUCEPANS) ON THE DRYING RACK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SAID ITEMS.
  7. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • NOTED TORN RUBBER GASKET INSIDE THE DOOR OF 2 DOOR REFRIGERATION UNIT AT THE KITCHEN PREP. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AND/OR REPLACE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • NOTED WASHROOM ON-PREMISE WITH GARBAGE RECEPTACLE AND NO LID. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TRASH CANS WITH LIDS AT ALL WOMEN WASHROOMS AND UNISEX WASHROOMS
  8. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BUILT UP OF SOIL RESIDUES ON STANDING DUST PAN. REMOVE ALL SOIL RESIDUES AND KEEP CLEAN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FLOOR DRAIN UNCLEAN IN MAIN KITCHEN NEXT TO MOP SINK. CLEAN FLOOR DRAIN IN DETAIL.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • VENTILATION IN WASHROOM NOT WORKING REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
  9. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • NO PERSON IN CHARGE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO PERSON IN CHARGE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION WHILE TCS FOODS WERE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED (PORK, CHICKEN, RICE). INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A PERSON IN CHARGE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WITH AN ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-012.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO LID ON TRASH CAN IN UNISEX BATHROOM. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES IN DINING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND REPLACE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES INCOMPLETE. MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO OBTAIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE.
  10. License

    3 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND MISSING ITEMS FOR VOMIT SPILL KIT.(SANITIZING SOLUTION EFFECTIVE FOR NOROVIRUS). PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • FOUND NO SPLASHGUARDS FOR HAND SINK AT REAR KITCHEN. FOUND NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND PREPARATION SINK. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND WALLS AND CEILIING NOT SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN AT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREAS. MUST REPAIR.
  11. License

    0 infractions

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