Pass

Pochos

1727 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Restaurant ZIP 60608 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Jun 3, 2026

Pochos was last inspected on June 3, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 4 violations.

Latest inspection

June 3, 2026 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

4 general
  • GeneralFood handling

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

    Inspector’s note: All bulk food containers in need of proper labeling. Instructed to correct and maintain

    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: Interior of ice machine in need of detail cleaning to remove all build up. Instructed to clean and maintain.

    Official wording (code 39)

    Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

  • GeneralFood handling

    In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

    Inspector’s note: Knives in use on prep line may not be stored between coolers. Instructed to remove all utensils and store in a proper container.

    Official wording (code 43)

    In-use utensils: properly stored

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: Hood vent 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

6 inspections on record

  1. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean and maintain the interior sides of the ice machine.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

  2. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c) observed the interior of the fryer with minor accumulated grease debris. Instructed to clean.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-201.11 observed the coving deattached from the wall under a dry storage shelf in the basement. Instructed to repair. 6-201.11 observed the splash guard deattached at the hand washing sink located in the food prep area across from the cooking equipment. Instructed to repair.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  3. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    3 critical5 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: 2-101.11 observed no person in charge on site at the beginning of the inspection. Instructed a person in charge must be present at all times the facility is open and operating. Priority foundation 7-38-012.

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Staff touched ready-to-eat food with bare hands.

      Inspector’s note: 3-301.11(b) observed a food handler slicing ready-to-eat avocado with his bare hands. Instructed never to allow bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Instead, use tongs, spoons, or food-grade disposable gloves to handle all ready-to-eat foods 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

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: 6-301.11 observed no hand washing cleanser available at the rear dishwashing and rear food prep area hand washing sinks. Instructed to provide hand washing cleanser at all hand washing sinks at all times. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-030(c).

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

      Gloves weren’t used properly.

      Inspector’s note: 3-304.15 observed a food handler with one food-grade disposable glove on and using that hand to handle a knife instead of handling ready-to-eat foods. Instructed manager to review proper glove use with all food handlers.

      Official wording (code 46)

      Gloves used properly

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c) observed the interior of the fryer with minor accumulated grease debris. Instructed to clean.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: 5-501.15 observed an overflowing outside garbage dumpster with boxes on the ground around the outside dumpster. Instructed to never allow outside dumpster to overflow and clean the ground area. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-020(b).

      Official wording (code 54)

      Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-201.11 observed the coving deattached from the wall under a dry storage shelf in the basement. Instructed to repair.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-201.11 observed the splash guard deattached at the hand washing sink located in the food prep area across from the cooking equipment. Instructed to repair.

      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: 2-101.11 observed no city of chicago food service sanitation manager on site while tcs foods (eggs, beef) are being prepared handled and served to the public. Instructed a city of chicago food service sanitation manager must be on site at all times the facility is open and operating. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-012.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

  4. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    4 critical1 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Found food handlers without a record of signed employee health policy. Instructed managers to provide a verifiable acknowledgement of their responsibility to report information about their health and activities to diseases that are transmissible through food to the pic. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-010. Citation issued.

      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: Found no hand washing signage at handwashing sink located in dish washing area. 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

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

      Inspector’s note: Found in-house pickles with a 3/7 prepared-by date. Instructed manager to provide discard date for all tcs foods held for over 24 hours. The manager discards 6 lbs of pickles at $15. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • CriticalFood handling

      Specialized processes (curing, vacuum-packing, etc.) didn’t follow the approved plan.

      Inspector’s note: Found housemade pickles on site. A retail food establishment shall obtain an approved variance from cdph before fermenting food. House made pickles were discarded. Instructed operator to no longer prepare, sell, or serve said food item until haccp and a variance are approved by cdph. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. No citations issued. Food discarded.

      Official wording (code 29)

      Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp

    • 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. No citation issued food discarded.

      Official wording (code 32)

      Variance obtained for specialized processing methods

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Found no proof of food handler training. Instructed manager to provide proof of food handler training for all food handlers.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  5. Pass

    License · Pass

    3 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed sewage pipes in basement over single use food containers (food container, food service cups). Utensils and single use articles must be stored where they are not exposed to contamination. Instructed manager to remove single use articles from under sewage pipes. -

      Official wording (code 45)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found no back flow prevention device at coffee machine. A back flow prevention device must be located, so that it may be serviced and maintained. -

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Found two missing light bulbs in food prep area under the hood. Instructed manager to provide.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Found no proof of allergen training on site at time of inspection. Instructed to provide allegren training for all city of chicago food service managers.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

More in ZIP 60608

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 5 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.