Bobijoa
1140 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Restaurant ZIP 60608 Risk 1 (High)
Passed · as of Sep 10, 2026
Bobijoa was last inspected on September 10, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 2 violations.
Latest inspection
September 10, 2026 · Complaint Re-Inspection
Result: Pass
2 general-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: 3-305.11: observed a sheet tray with carrots on a speed rack not covered in the rear prep area. Instructed to cover food items to prevent possible contamination and maintain.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c): observed the shelf under the food prep table in the rear prep area in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspection history
13 inspections on record
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Fail
Complaint · Fail
1 critical3 general Show violations
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CriticalFood handling
Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.
Inspector’s note: Observed the low-temperature dishwashing machine (not in use) not properly sanitizing. Sanitizing strength of sanitizer (chlorine) at the time of inspection was 00 ppm. Instructed not to use until equipment is properly sanitizing. Unit tagged for inspection. Priority violation 7-38-025, no citation issued
Official wording (code 16)
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: Observed a sheet tray with carrots on a speed rack not covered in the rear prep area. Instructed to cover food items to prevent possible contamination and maintain.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed the shelf under the food prep table in the rear prep area in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralRepeat violation
A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.
Inspector’s note: Observed previous core violations not corrected from 07/18/2025, report #2620902 #37: 3-302.12: observed dry food containers and squirt bottles not labeled with common food name. Instructed to label and maintain. #44: 4-903.11 (a;b;d): observed clean forks stored on the rear storage rack, not inverted. Instructed to invert and maintain. #55: 6-501.12: observed floors and walls in the rear prep area in need of cleaning. Especially under the cooking equipment, where fries are prepared and deep fried, and under the dishwashing machine. Instructed to clean floors and walls. #55:6-501.114: observed the rear hot water tank storage closet with clutter and not organized. Instructed to organize and maintain. Priority foundation:7-42-090, citation issued
Official wording (code 60)
Previous core violation corrected
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No Entry
Complaint · No Entry
No violations
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Conditional
Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions
1 critical5 general1 paperwork Show violations
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hands weren’t washed properly or when required.
Inspector’s note: Observed improper hand washing procedure. Observed food handler in rear prep area rinse hands in with no soap and wiped hands-on apron and then on nearby wiping cloth stored on top of a prep cooler. Instructed to properly wash hands with soap and dry with an adequate hand drying provision. Food handler properly washed hands after notification. Priority violation 7-38-010, citation issued
Official wording (code 8)
Hands clean & properly washed
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.
Inspector’s note: Observed dry food containers and squirt bottles not labeled with common food name. Instructed to label and maintain.
Official wording (code 37)
Food properly labeled; original container
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GeneralFood handling
Clean utensils, equipment, or linens weren’t stored and handled properly.
Inspector’s note: Observed clean forks stored on the rear storage rack, not inverted. Instructed to invert and maintain.
Official wording (code 44)
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Unable to locate backflow prevention device on water and ice machine stored in lobby/dining area for self service. Instructed to provide and maintain.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed floors and walls in the rear prep area in need of cleaning. Especially under the cooking equipment, where fries are prepared and deep fried, and under the dishwashing machine. Instructed to clean floors and walls.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed the rear hot water tank storage closet with clutter and not organized. Instructed to organize and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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PaperworkManagement & training
No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.
Inspector’s note: Observed no certified food manager on site during the inspection while open and operating. Found expired city of chicago food service manager certificate posted on site. Instructed course must be taken and an original city of chicago certified food manager must be on site with the original certificate posted. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012, citation issued
Official wording (code 2)
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
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Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
1 critical1 general Show violations
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CriticalFood handling
Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.
Inspector’s note: 4-602.11 observed minor brownish substance in the interior of the ice machine located by the ice maker. Instructed to clean and sanitize.
Official wording (code 16)
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 observed floors with excessive accumulated dirt and grease debris under all cooking equipment, observed excessive grease debris on the vents above the cooking equipment and excessive dirt and dust debris on the floors inside of the dry storage closets. Instructed to clean all.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
2 critical1 general Show violations
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CriticalFood handling
Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.
Inspector’s note: 4-602.11 observed minor brownish substance in the interior of the ice machine located by the ice maker. Instructed to clean and sanitize.
Official wording (code 16)
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
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CriticalFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: 5-205.15 observed no hot water at the 3-compartment sink. Instructed to provide hot water at the 3-compartment sink at all times. Priority violation. Citation issued 7-38-030(c).
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 observed floors with excessive accumulated dirt and grease debris under all cooking equipment, observed excessive grease debris on the vents above the cooking equipment and excessive dirt and dust debris on the floors inside of the dry storage closets. Instructed to clean all.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
2 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Found ceiling paint peeling located in dining area. Must repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Found unnecessary items and clutter located in basement instructed to move any items that are no longer needed or organize to prevent clutter.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
No violations
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
3 critical3 general Show violations
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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): cooked noodles, beef soup and cooked rice (that has mold on it), held for over 24 hours 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. Manager voluntarily discards.
Official wording (code 23)
Proper date marking and disposition
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CriticalFood handling
No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.
Inspector’s note: Observed eggs on menu said items can be ordered undercooked. Instructed facility to provide footnote, disclosure (written disclosure and disclosure by asterisk) and reminder for menu items that can be ordered under cooked. Priority foundation violation.7-38-005.
Official wording (code 25)
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
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CriticalFood handling
Specialized processes (curing, vacuum-packing, etc.) didn’t follow the approved plan.
Inspector’s note: Found kimchi, the operator states it is made on-site. A retail food establishment shall obtain an approved variance from cdph before fermenting food. Kimchi was not labenled with a date. Manager voluntarily discards approx 4 quarts. Instructed operator to no longer sell or serve said food item until haccp and a variance are approved by cdph. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 29)
Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp
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GeneralFood handling
No approval obtained for a specialized processing method.
Inspector’s note: Found no haccp or variance on site. Approved haccp and variance is required for fermenting. Instructed manager to provide. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. Citation consolidated with violation #29.
Official wording (code 32)
Variance obtained for specialized processing methods
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Found approx. 50 rat droppings throughout basement area. Instructed manager to remove droppings, clean, sanitize and maintain said areas. Recommended contacting pest control. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-020(a). Citation issued.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Observed 1/8 inch gap underneath entrance door. Instructed manager to provide tight fitting doors at all times.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
3 general1 paperwork Show violations
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: 3-305.11 observed an exposed sewer pipe on the ceiling in the food prep area above a dry storage utensil shelf and above the 3 compartment sink. Instructed to encase the exposed sewer pipe in order to protect from any possible contamination.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c) observed the interior of the fryers with accumulated food and grease debris. Instructed to clean.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: 5-501.17 observed no covered receptacles inside of both toilet rooms. Instructed to provide.
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
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PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed new employee without a food handlers certificate. Instructed that all food handlers and/or dish washers must obtain a food handlers certificate within 30 days of hire.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
7 critical4 general2 paperwork Show violations
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CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: 2-501.11 observed no vomit and diarrhea clean up kit on site. Instructed to provide. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Staff touched ready-to-eat food with bare hands.
Inspector’s note: 3-301.11(b) observed food handler preparing ready to eat foods (gimbap roll) with bare hands. Instructed to never have bare hand contact with ready to eat foods, instructed to use tongs spoons of food grade disposable gloves to prepare all ready to eat foods. Instructed to review with food handlers proper glove useage, when to change gloves and always wash hands in between glove useage at all times. Priority violation. Citation issued 7-38-010.
Official wording (code 9)
No bare hand contact with rte food or a pre-approved alternative procedure properly allowed
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: 5-205.11 observed hand washing sink blocked and not accessible with a prep table in front of the only hand washing sink for the food prep area. Instructed to remove the prep table and always ensure the hand washing sink is accessible at all times. Priority foundation. Citaion issued 7-38-030(c).
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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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 hand washing sink in the food prep area. Instructed to provide.
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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CriticalFood temperature
Cold food was held above a safe temperature.
Inspector’s note: 3-501.16(a:2,&b) observed time/temperature control for safety foods (raw beef, raw chicken, raw shrimp) at inadequate cold holding temperatures located in a cold holding unit across from the cooking equipment. Observed about 3 lbs of raw chicken at 50.9f, about 2 lbs of raw beef at 49.3f, about 1 lb of raw calamari at 49f and about 1 lbs of raw shrimp at 49.6f. Instructed to discard and denature said tcs foods and always maintain all tcs foods at 41f or below at all times. All tcs food items discarded totaled about $311 per manager. Manager discarded and denatured said tcs foods during the inspection. Priority violation. Citation issued 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 22)
Proper cold holding temperatures
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CriticalFood handling
No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.
Inspector’s note: 3-603.11 observed no consumer advisory posted nor a disclosure and reminder on the menu for all items that can be ordered undercooked or raw (beef burgers, sunny side up egg dishes.) instructed to provide a disclosure and reminder on all menus for all items that can be ordered undercooked or raw. Priority foundation 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 25)
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
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CriticalFood temperature
Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.
Inspector’s note: 4-301.11 observed a cold holding unit, with tcs foods inside, at an inadequate cold holding temperature of 49.8f during the inspection. Unit tagged and held for inspection by cdph and may not be used. Instructed to maintain all cold holding units at 41f or below at all times. Priority violation. Citation issued 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 33)
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: 3-305.11 observed an exposed sewer pipe on the ceiling in the food prep area above a dry storage utensil shelf and above the 3 compartment sink. Instructed to encase the exposed sewer pipe in order to protect from any possible contamination.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c) observed the interior of the fryers with accumulated food and grease debris. Instructed to clean.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: 5-501.17 observed no covered receptacles inside of both toilet rooms. Instructed to provide.
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 observed standing water and accumulated dirt debris under the 3 compartment sink, under the low temperature dish machine and accumulated dirt debris in the floor drain under the 3 compartment sink. Instructed to remove standing water and accumulated dirt debris.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed new employee without a food handlers certificate. Instructed that all food handlers and/or dish washers must obtain a food handlers certificate within 30 days of hire.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
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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
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Conditional
License · Pass w/ Conditions
3 critical3 general1 paperwork Show violations
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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 7-38-010.
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
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CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: 2-501.11 observed no written procedure nor adequate supplies on site. Instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: 6-301.14 observed hand washing signs are needed by the hand washing sinks in the food prep area and in the toilet rooms. Instructed to provide.
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: 6-202.15 observed front and rear doors with a 1/2 inch gap at the bottom. Instructed to make said doors rodent proofed.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c) observed rust on the bottom of the prep table shelf located by the cooking equipment. Instructed to remove rust.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: 5-501.17 observed no closed receptacle inside of the toilet rooms. Instructed to provide.
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
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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
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Not Ready
License · Not Ready
No violations
More in ZIP 60608
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 8 weeks ago. Always confirm with the official record.