Pass

La Esperanza Restaurant

1864 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Restaurant ZIP 60608 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Feb 2, 2026

La Esperanza Restaurant was last inspected on February 2, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 1 violation.

Latest inspection

February 2, 2026 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

1 general
  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: Hood filters in need of cleaning to remove all grease build up. Instructed to clean and maintain.

    Official wording (code 56)

    Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspection history

10 inspections on record

  1. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

      Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: 2-402.11 observed male food handlers with beard and without a beard guard. Instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 40)

      Personal cleanliness

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: 4-502.13 observed cooked rice being stored in grocery bags located in the walk in cooler. Instructed to store all food items in food grade containers or food grade bags only.

      Official wording (code 45)

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

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: 4-602.11(b-e) observed a minor brownish substance located on the panel of the ice machine. Instructed to clean and sanitize.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: 3-307.11 observed tortilla chip containers being stacked on top of one another without protection between each serving. Instructed to place wax paper sheets in between each container of tortilla chips and on the top of the tortilla chips in order to protect from any possible contamination. The manager corrected during the inspection.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

      Inspector’s note: 4-603.15 observed no written procedure for washing, rinsing, and sanitizing the large pots that are too large to be submerged in the 4-compartment and 3-compartment sinks. Instructed to provide a written procedure on the procedure of washing, rinsing, and sanitizing large equipment or remove large equipment or provide a 3-compartment sink that has compartments large enough to fit the large equipment.

      Official wording (code 48)

      Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

  3. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Found time/temperature control for safety food chicken at an improper cold holding temperature of 53f located in walk-in cooler. Instructed manager to discard and denature approx. 5 lbs of chicken at $30. Instructed manager to provide a minimum cold holding temperature of 41f at all times. Priority violation citation issued. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 22)

      Proper cold holding temperatures

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found utility sink not draining. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  4. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical1 general Show violations
    • 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 behind the bar at the hand washing sink. Instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: 5-204.12 unable to locate the backflow prevention device on the ice machine located behind the bar. Instructed to locate or provide.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  5. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    No violations

  6. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical1 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the ice machine with black and pink slimy substance inside. Instructed to empty, clean, sanitize and maintain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed several light bulbs missing in the men's handicap, women's handicap, men's and women's toilet rooms. Instructed to replace and maintain

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: No city of chicago food service manager on site while tcs foods(tacos, eggs, rice and beans, etc)are being prepared and served. A city of chicago food service manager shall be present at all times tcs foods are being prepared and served. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

  7. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the ceiling tiles, and ceiling light shield in dish area not clean instructed to clean.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  8. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    2 critical2 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no policy in place for employee health. Must provide. Priority foundation 7-38-010. No citation issued. Given 90 days to comply.

      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. Must provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005. No citation issued. Given 90 days to comply.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed dishes in basement stored improperly. Instructed to invert to preventcontamination.

      Official wording (code 45)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Remove dust build-up on housing of fan in walk-in cooler and on ceiling of walk-in cooler.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide proof of allergen training as required. Given 90 days to comply.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  9. Conditional

    License · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service

      Inspector’s note: Observed potentially hazardous foods at improper temperatures inside of the walk-in cooler. Observed cooked beans at 44.4f, eggs at 43.9f, cooked rice at 43.5f, soup at 44.4f, beef at 43.9f, shrimp at 43.5f, chicken at 43.9f, milk at 43.5f. Management voluntarily discarded approximately 550# of food worth $807. Critical violation 7-38-005a.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Observed foods stored in direct contact with plastic grocery bags in the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer. Also observed a milk jug filled with cocktail sauce in the walk-in cooler. Management instructed to use only food grade storage bags and not to reuse milk containers.

More in ZIP 60608

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 9 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.