Pass

La Michoacana

1855 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Restaurant ZIP 60608 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of May 6, 2025

La Michoacana was last inspected on May 6, 2025 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 7 violations.

Latest inspection

May 6, 2025 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

5 general2 paperwork
  • GeneralFood handling

    Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

    Inspector’s note: Wiping cloths not properly stored when not in use. Instructed to store in sanitizing solution (sanitizer must be at the required ppm) when not in use. Maintain same.

    Official wording (code 41)

    Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

    Inspector’s note: Storage racks inside the walk in cooler has rusty surfaces. Instructed to remove rust or replace racks and maintain a rust free surface.

    Official wording (code 47)

    Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Interior/exterior of floor drains and floors in the corners with dirt and debris. Instructed to clean and maintain floor drains and floors.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Mop stored inside of mop bucket with dirty water. Instructed to properly store hanging up to air dry when not in use. Maintain same.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: Poor lighting inside the walk in cooler. Instructd to provide adequate lighting and maintain.

    Official wording (code 56)

    Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  • PaperworkManagement & training

    Not all food employees had food-handler training.

    Inspector’s note: Food handler on site with an expired food handlers certificate. Instructed to have all food handlers obtain and maintain a valid food handlers certificate.

    Official wording (code 57)

    All food employees have food handler training

  • PaperworkManagement & training

    Required allergen training was missing.

    Inspector’s note: CFM ON SITE DOES NOT HAVE AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CFMs OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE.

    Official wording (code 58)

    Allergen training as required

Inspection history

11 inspections on record

  1. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical5 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

      Inspector’s note: Observed person in charge without proof of food safety management training during time of inspection. Must provide. No citation issued.

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

      Inspector’s note: Observed several food containers with dry products (pecans, cinnamon, raisins, sprinkles) without proper common food name markings. Must label bulk and working food containers with contents common name. Must label food storage containers when food is not in original package.

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

      Inspector’s note: Food containers stored on floor in prep, and walk-in cooler. Must provide proper, raised shelving to store food containers and food 6" off floor.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Noted some use of milk crates for elevation at the kitchen area, dishwashing area, and dry storage area. Instructed not to use milk crates for elevation to prevent hiding places for pest. Must provide appropriate shelving for storage. All food items must also be stored 6" away from the wall.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Noted clutter of equipment, cardboard boxes and other unused items on floors in the corner of the kitchen next to ice cream machine. Must elevate all items to allow cleaning and remove all unnecessary items.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed few loose fitting ceiling tiles above back prep area. Must make the ceiling tiles tight fitting to prevent pest entry.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: No city of chicago certified food manager on site during the inspection while the temperature control for safety foods (milk, cut up watermelon) has been prepared and served. Instructed a city of chicago certified food manager must be on site at all times foods are being prepared and served. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012.citation issued.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

  2. Pass

    Complaint Re-Inspection · Pass

    No violations

  3. Fail

    Complaint · Fail

    4 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Found no hand washing signage at the handwashing sink located in the employee/customer toilet room and rear prep. Handwashing signage must be posted at all handwashing sinks at all times.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Observed time/temperature control for safety foods (pork, milk, eggs heavy cream, sour cream ) at improper cold holding temperatures ranging from 54f - 60f located in the walk-in cooler and the prep cooler during the inspection instructed to discard and denature all said tcs foods at 60 lbs $2,000. Instructed to maintain a minimum cold holding temperature of 41f. Priority violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 22)

      Proper cold holding temperatures

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Prepared food wasn’t date-marked, or was kept past its discard date.

      Inspector’s note: Observed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety foods (tcs): pico de gallo, flavored yogurt, freshly squeezed juice held for over 24 fours without discard date. Instructed facility to provide discard date for any ready-to-eat tcs foods held for over 24 hours. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.

      Inspector’s note: Observed walk-in cooler at an improper cold holding temperature of 60f at the time of inspection. Walk-in cooler tagged and held for inspection by the chicago department of public health. Instructed to discard all tcs foods and not use reach-in cooler. Until it maintains a cold holding temperature of 41f or below and is re-inspected by the chicago department of public health. Priority violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 33)

      Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Found approx. 2 large flies in the rear food prep area. Also noted are approx 4 small flies by 3 compartment sink. Instructed manager to minimize all fly activity. Recommended contacting pest control. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-020(a). Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

  4. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    2 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no vomit and diarrhea procedure or cleaning materials to clean up said incident on site. The facility must provide procedures and cleaning materials (gloves, mask, disposable mop, disinfectant rated for norovirus) for employees to follow and use when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events. Instructed manager to provide. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Observed dishwasher not following proper dishwashing procedure. Observed dishwasher not sanitizing dishes at time of inspection. Instructed manager to use an approved sanitizing solution to sanitize dishes adequately. 7-38-025. Priority violation. Citation issued

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Found condenser located in walk-in cooler profusely leaking. Instructed manager to to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found drain pipe profusely leaking from 3-compartment sink. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  5. Conditional

    Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions

    2 critical3 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.14(o) observed no employee health policy on site. Instructed to provide. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-010.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: 6-301.14 observed no hand washing sign located at the rear hand washing sink. Instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

      Inspector’s note: 3-601.11 observed no label on the prepackaged products (chip, peanuts. Etc) with business name, business address and ingredients. Manager provided labels, instructed to put labels on all prepackaged items.

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

    • GeneralFood handling

      Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

      Inspector’s note: 4-502.13 observed cardboard being reused as a shelf liner in the food prep area. Instructed to not reuse cardboard.

      Official wording (code 45)

      Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: 5-204.12 unable to locate the back flow prevention device on the ice machine located in the front food prep area/customer service area. Instructed to provide or locate.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed the city of chicago food service sanitation manager without the required allergen training certificate. Instructed to meet requirement.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  6. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling

      Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed wiping clothes laying on the counter tops. Instructed manager to place wiping clothes in sanitizing solution when not in use.

      Official wording (code 41)

      Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Floors in the rear need cleaning to remove spill. Also keep floor dry as possible to prevent breeding source for pests.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed manager that all valid city certified managers must have allergen training as required or citations will follow.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  7. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    1 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: 5-204.12 unable to locate the back flow prevention device on the ice machine. Instructed to locate.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed two female employees without food handlers certificates. Instructed to meet requirement.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed no allergen training certificates on site. Instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  8. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    2 critical2 general3 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

      Inspector’s note: 2-101.11 observed the pic without the city of chicago food service sanitation certificate. Instructed to meet requirement.

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: 2-501.11 observed no adequate supplies on site to properly respond to vomit and diarrhea events that can potentially occur inside of the facility. Instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-005.no citation isued

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: 5-204.12 unable to locate the back flow prevention device on the ice machine. Instructed to locate.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralRepeat violation

      A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

      Inspector’s note: 8-404.13(B:4) OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2290461 DATED 5/24/19; 37 3-602.11(A; B:1-4,6,7; C; D): Food Labels OBSERVED PRE-PACKAGED FOODS CHIPS, AND CANDY ETC. FOR RETAIL SALE WITHOUT ANY LABELS, INSTRUCTED ON PROPER LABELING, COMMON NAME, INGREDIENTS, QUALITY OF CONTENTS NAME AND ADDRESS OF BUSINESS. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-090.

      Official wording (code 60)

      Previous core violation corrected

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: 2-101.11 observed no city of chicago food service sanitation manager on site while time/temperature control for safety foods (ham) are being prepared, handled and sold to the public. Instructed to always have a city of chicago food service sanitation manager on site at all times. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-012.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed two female employees without food handlers certificates. Instructed to meet requirement.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed no allergen training certificates on site. Instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  9. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    3 critical4 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no employee ehalth policy on premises at this time, instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-010, no citation issued.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events on premises, instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-005, no citation issued.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: OBSERVED WATER LINES(USED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE) THE ICECREAM MACHINE CONSTRUCTED WITH UNAPPROVED MATERIAL, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE APPROVED FOOD GRADE MATERIAL(SUCH AS NSF51) AND PROVIDE SPECIFICATIONS. ICE CREAM MACHINE TAGGED INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL REINSPECTION AND PROPER NSF51 HOSE IS CONNECTED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(c) CITATION ISSUED.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

      Inspector’s note: Observed pre-packaged foods chips, and candy etc. For retail sale without any labels, instructed on proper labeling, common name, ingredients, quality of contents name and address of business.

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

    • GeneralFood handling

      Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed wiping clothes improperly stored on front counters, instructed to store properly in sanitizing solutions when not in use.

      Official wording (code 41)

      Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Observed cardboard used for lining on the rear bottom prep table, instructed to remove cardboard so surface will be smooth, even, and easily cleanable.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Ob served rear prep area cluttered, instructed to organize and remove items not being used.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed all food handler certificates expired in 2018, instructed to provide new/valid certificates.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no allergen training on premises at this time, instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  10. Pass

    License · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Observed wet wiping cloths stored on top of the prep tables. Management instructed to store wet wiping cloths in a container of sanitizer.

More in ZIP 60608

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 18 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.