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MI CORAZON CAFE

1636-1638 W 18TH ST, CHICAGO, IL 60608 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

MI CORAZON CAFE has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 10, 2022. The most recent inspection, on October 2, 2025, recorded 7 infractions.

2 of 6 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 2, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 October 2, 2025. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 October 2, 2025. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 December 5, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 7 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 2, 2025. For example: TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

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.

6 inspections

  1. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • NO THERMOMETER (INTERNAL NOR EXTERNAL) ON THE COOLER IN THE PREP AREA BY THE HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE PREPARING/SERVING FOOD AND WHILE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL IN THE FOOD PREP AREA, PREPARING AND SERVING FOODS TO WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • WIPING CLOTH NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION (SANITIZER MUST BE AT THE REQUIRED PPM) WHEN NOT IN USE.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • TONGS STORED ON THE OVEN DOOR HANDLE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN A CLEAN BIN OR CONTAINER. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • THE TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE EMPLOYEE'S TOILET ROOM HAS NO LID/COVER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A TRASH RECEPTACLE WITH A LID/COVER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS IN THE BASEMENT AND FIRST FLOOR CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND THE STORAGE RACKS AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH DIRT/DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • BOTH CFMS ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ARE EXPIRED. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES.
  2. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • 4-602.11(B-E) OBSERVED A MINOR SLIGHT BROWNISH SUBSTANCE IN THE ICE MACHINE BY THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MAKER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • 6-202.15 OBSERVED THE OUTER OPENINGS THAT ARE LOCATED BY THE ENTRANCE THAT LEADS TO OUTSIDE PATIO WITH A ONE INCH GAP AT THE BOTTOM. INSTRUCTED TO MAKE SAID ENTRANCE TIGHT FITTING AND RODENT PROOFED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE OR LOCATE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.12 OBSERVED MINOR DIRT DEBRIS ON THE FLOORS IN VARIOUS AREAS, FOOD PREP AREA, TOILET ROOM AND HOT WATER HEATER CLOSET. OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST DEBRIS AROUND THE CONDENSER UNIT OF THE UNUSED 3 DOOR PREP COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL.
  3. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    9 infractions

    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTIONG BETWEEN USES.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • OBSERVED MULTI-USE UTENSILS IMPROPERLY STORED IN DIPPER WELL. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE PROPERLY WASH, RINSE, SANITIZE AND INVERT ALL CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND EQUIPMENT.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES STORED ON FLOOR IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED ICE BUILDUP INSIDE SMALL COOLER AND RAW WOOD SURFACES IN BEVERAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DEFROST COOLER AND SEAL ALL RAW WOOD SURFACES IN BEVERAGE AREA.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FOOD SPILLS AND DEBRIS ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, PREP TABLES, SINKS, SHELVING UNITS, COOLERS AND FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED OPENINGS AROUND ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN WOMEN WASHROOM. INSRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL ALL OPENINGS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON VENTILATION FANS IN WASHROOMS, DUST, DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
  5. License

    2 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • MUST PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGERS.
  6. License

    0 infractions

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