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OMARCITO'S LATIN CAFE

2350 N HAMLIN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

OMARCITO'S LATIN CAFE has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since January 9, 2023. The most recent inspection, on August 21, 2025, recorded 4 infractions.

1 of 5 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, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 14, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 August 21, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 2 times on August 7, 2024. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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 August 14, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 once on August 7, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • 3-304.14: **C** Wiping Cloths, Use Limitation OBSERVED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON SEVERAL PREP SURFACE AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT & FOOD. MUST MAINTAIN
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 4-101.19: **C** Nonfood-Contact Surfaces OBSERVED FOOD ENCRUSTED STORAGE RACKS UNDER FRONT SERVICE AREA SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.PROVIDE STOPPERS FOR 3-COMP SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 4-101.19: **C** Nonfood-Contact Surfaces OBSERVED CHECKERED TABLECLOTH USED AS LINER ON FOOD STORAGE RACKS IN FRONT SERVICE AREA . INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.11: **C** Maintained in Good Repair, Facilities (FACILITIES NOT IN GOOD REPAIR) OB SERVED WALL AIRIN CONDITIONING UNIT WITH EXCESSIVE LEAK IN REAR PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED HANDSINK IN PREP AREA NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HANDSINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED HAND SOAP FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWEL IN THE HAND-SINK IN THE PREP AREA. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT PAPER TOWELS MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HAND SINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED PAPER TOWEL FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION COMBINED WITH THE ABOVE VIOLATION
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED PEST ACTIVITY WITH APPROX. 25 SMALL FLIES NOTED DURING INSPECTION. SMALL FLY ACTIVITY WAS NOTED NEAR THE DRY STORAGE WALL WHERE ONIONS ARE STORED NEAR THE EXIT OF THE FACILITY BEFORE THE OUTDOOR DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT PEST CONTROL AS ADDITIONAL SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE ACTIVITY BEFORE RE-INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON SEVERAL PREP SURFACE AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT & FOOD. MUST MAINTAIN
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CHECKERED TABLECLOTH USED AS LINER ON FOOD STORAGE RACKS IN FRONT SERVICE AREA . INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED FOOD ENCRUSTED STORAGE RACKS UNDER FRONT SERVICE AREA SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.PROVIDE STOPPERS FOR 3-COMP SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OB SERVED WALL AIRIN CONDITIONING UNIT WITH EXCESSIVE LEAK IN REAR PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
  3. Complaint

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT PREPARATION HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON PROVIDE SIGNAGE.
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • FOUND TCS FOODS INSIDE COLD HOLD UNIT AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES. FOUND 15 LBS OF BEEF FILLED PASTRY AT 48.9F, 30 LBS COOKED BEEF AT 50.5F, AND 15 LBS OF RAW BEEF AT 52F. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED. #7-38-005. DISPOSED OF 60 LBS OF TCS FOODS VALUED AT 300 DOLLARS.
    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • FOUND REACH-IN COOLER AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE. TEMPERATURE AT 52.3F. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED. #7-38-005. REACH-IN COOLER TAGGED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • FOUND BULK FOOD CONTAINERS WITH NO LABELS (RICE, FLOUR). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE LABELS.
  4. Complaint

    0 infractions

  5. License

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES.

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