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RICA AREPA VENEZUELAN CAFE INC

4255 W ARMITAGE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

RICA AREPA VENEZUELAN CAFE INC has been inspected 10 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since November 3, 2017. The most recent inspection, on April 22, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

4 of 10 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Pests and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 February 20, 2024. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 April 22, 2026. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 once on May 14, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 February 20, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 February 20, 2024. 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.

10 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED A 1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF AND ALONG THE LONG EDGE OF FRONT ENTRANCE AND REAR EXIT DOOR. MUST PROVIDE A TIGHT-FITTING SEAL AT ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF PESTS.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • OBSERVED PLATES AND PANS THROUGHOUT NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL PANS, PLATES, AND BOWLS AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED ALL MOPS IN A POSITION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW TO DRY PROPERLY AND PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. MUST STORE MOP AFTER USE IN A MOUNTED POSITION THAT ALLOWS FOR AIR-DRYING WITHOUT SOILING AND PEST HARBORAGING.
  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 8. HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE CHANGING TASKS INCLUDING HANDLING CASH CHANGING GLOVES THEN MAKING A SMOOTHIE WITHOUT HANDWASHING IN BETWEEN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED CLOSED POCKET DOOR MAKING HANDSINK INACCESSIBLE TO FRONT PREPARATION SERVICE AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(c). NO CITATION ISSUED
  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED MINOR RESIDUE BUILD UP INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED SUGAR OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOODS AND SPICES WITH COMMON NAME THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED ICE SCOOP LAYING ON TOP OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE ICE SCOOP HANDLE UP ABOVE ICE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
  5. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED MINOR RESIDUE BUILD UP INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED BACON AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 48.9F INSIDE OF COOLER. ALSO OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE. SAUSAGE FOUND AT 50.1F, HAM FOUND AT 49.2F, EGGS FOUND AT 46.4F, RAW CHICKEN FOUND AT 44.9F AND RAW STEAK MEAT FOUND AT 45.3F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TCS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 41.0F OR BELOW INSIDE OF A COLD HOLDING UNIT. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED FOOD. FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS AT A COST OF $200.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  6. Canvass

    0 infractions

  7. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENTS AND FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  8. Canvass

    0 infractions

  9. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
  10. License

    0 infractions

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