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MARCELA'S CAFE

3503 W FULLERTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

MARCELA'S CAFE has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since November 19, 2019. The most recent inspection, on April 23, 2025, found no infractions.

1 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, Pests and Protecting food from contamination.

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 on November 19, 2019. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 March 27, 2023. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 May 31, 2022. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

  • 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 31, 2022. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 February 24, 2021. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

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

    2 infractions

    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • FOUND CONTAINERS NOT STORED PROPERLY ON DRYING RACKS.MUST STORE INVERTED.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOUND FOOD HANDLERS WITH NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.MUST PROVIDE.
  3. Complaint

    1 infraction

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED 1/4 INCH GAP AT FRONT ENTRANCED DOOR SWEEP. MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR.
  4. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED SEVERAL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
  5. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENU FOR RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE OR DESCRIBE ALL FOODS WHICH CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED AND LINK THOSE ITEMS TO THE REMINDER STATEMENT IN THE MENU. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO ADD A STATEMENT TO THE MENU BEFORE THE REMINDER STATEMENT THAT "THESE FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED." PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • CLEAN AND SANITIZE THE BLOOD AND FOOD DEBRIS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE 3 DOOR FREEZER IN THE REAR STORAGE AREA.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP ON THE VENTILATION HOOD FILTERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED SEVERAL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
  6. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED ON ESPRESSO MACHINE AND ICE MACHINE WATER LINES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES FOR BOTH ESPRESSO MACHINE AND ICE MACHINE WATER LINES.
  7. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • NO THERMOMETER INSIDE SODA STAND UP 2-DOOR COOLER. MUST PROVIDE WORKING THERMOMETER INSIDE SAID COOLER.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED ON ESPRESSO MACHINE AND ICE MACHINE WATER LINES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES FOR BOTH ESPRESSO MACHINE AND ICE MACHINE WATER LINES.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 3-COMPARTMENT SINK MIDDLE COMPARTMENT DRAIN PIPE LEAKING. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED SOME MISSING FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2345937 DATED ON 11/19/19 NOT CORRECTED-#57 OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN BY DATE OF REINSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090. NO CITATION ISSUED.
  8. License

    6 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICIES.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION -NO CITATION ISSUED)
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-NO CITATION ISSUED)
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • MUST PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS AT HAND SINKS IN TOILET ROOMS.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • MUST LABEL REPACKAGED FOODS (GELATINAS) WITH PROPER INFO GIVEN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • MUST REPLACE BURNT OUT LIGHT AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR PREP AREA.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

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