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TROPICUBA CAFE

4318 W FULLERTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TROPICUBA CAFE has been inspected 3 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 21, 2025. The most recent inspection, on February 4, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

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 once on February 4, 2026. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 21, 2025. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 4, 2026. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2025. For example: ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

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.

3 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND SPILLS ON THE FLOORS AND SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN UNDER ALL SHELVING UNITS, INTERIOR OF PREP COOLERS, HOT-HOLDING UNITS, PREP TABLES AND DEEP FRYERS TO REMOVE SPILLS, FOOD DEBRIS, DIRT BUILDUP AND/OR GREASE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED THE VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  2. License Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND ORGANIZE STORAGE ROOM IN REAR OF THE BASEMENT AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND ELEVATE MOPS,BROOMS CLEANING EQUIPMENTS OFF THE FLOOR AT LEAST 6" INCHES TO FACILITATE CLEANING AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
  3. License

    4 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF VERIFIABLE HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED INCORRECT CONSUMER ADVISORY ON MENUS. ITEMS STARRED ON MENU ARE NOT UNDERCOOKED OR RAW ITEMS (PORK CHOPS, ETC.) INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT CONSUMER ADVISORY BY ADDED REMINDER (*) NEXT TO ITEMS THAT ARE NOT FULLY COOKED. MUST PROVIDE FOOTNOTE THAT STATES IF ITEMS ARE SERVED RAW OR COOKED TO ORDER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND ORGANIZE STORAGE ROOM IN REAR OF THE BASEMENT AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND ELEVATE MOPS,BROOMS CLEANING EQUIPMENTS OFF THE FLOOR AT LEAST 6" INCHES TO FACILITATE CLEANING AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

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