Los Molcajetes

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Mar 5, 2025 Pass

   Complaint Re-Inspection · Pass

   3 general Show violations

   • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

     Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: 2-402.11 observed multiple food handling employees wihtout hair retstraints at the time of inspection. Instructed the person in charge to ensure all food handling employees wear hair restraints when handling foods to prevent contamination of foods and maintain.

     Official wording (code 40)

     Personal cleanliness

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: 4-602.13 observed accumulated grease and food debris on interior and exterior surfaces of cooking equipment, prep tables, coolers, freezers, shelving units. Instructed the person in charge to clean and maintain. (nonfood contact surfaces)

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed grease buildup, food debris, and dirt on floor under cooking equipment, along walls and in all corners in prep, dish washing, storage and basement areas. Instructed the person in charge to clean floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in all areas and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

2. Feb 21, 2025 Fail

   Complaint · Fail

   5 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed approximately 30 mice droppings inbetween bulk food containers on storage shelves in basement dry storage area. Instructed the person in charge to remove all rodent droppings, clean surfaces, and maintain premises free of pest. Recommended receive additional pest control service. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a) citation issued.

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

     Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: Observed multiple food handling employees wihtout hair retstraints at the time of inspection. Instructed the person in charge to ensure all food handling employees wear hair restraints when handling foods to prevent contamination of foods and maintain.

     Official wording (code 40)

     Personal cleanliness

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed accumulated grease and food debris on interior and exterior surfaces of cooking equipment, prep tables, coolers, freezers, shelving units. Instructed the person in charge to clean and maintain. (nonfood contact surfaces)

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed grease buildup, food debris, and dirt on floor under cooking equipment, along walls and in all corners in prep, dish washing, storage and basement areas. Instructed the person in charge to clean floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in all areas and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralRepeat violation

     A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

     Inspector’s note: Previous core violations from 07/10/2024 inspection, report #2597314 not corrected: #16-noted upper compartment of ice machine not cleaned. Instructed to clean, sanitize and maintain.#37-noted assorted food items inside refrigeration units not properly labeled. Instructed to properly label all food items with product name including bulk food containers #39-food containers stored on floor inside walk-in cooler. Must provide proper, raised shelving to store food containers 6" off floor. #47-noted torn rubber gasket inside the door of the 3 door refrigeration unit at the kitchen prep and door of small refrigeration unit at the bar. Instructed to repair and maintain and/or replace. Also noted rusty and dirty shelves inside walk in cooler at the basement food prep/dry storage area. Instructed to detail clean, repaint with non toxic food grade paint and/or replace.#48- noted a large pots…

     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: Observed facility food handlers preparing and handling time and temperature control for safety(tcs) foods (steak, chicken, etc.) without original city of chicago food service manager and certificate on site. Voided photocopy posted in kitchen. Informed person in charge that an original city of chicago food service certificate must be posted and certified manager must also be on site during tcs food prep, cooking, serving and operating hours. Priority foundation violation #7-38-012. Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 2)

     City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

3. Jul 10, 2024 Conditional

   Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions

   5 critical10 general Show violations

   • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

     Staff were eating, drinking, or smoking where food is prepared.

     Inspector’s note: Noted employees drinking and preparing food at the kitchen prep area. Instructed management to provide a designated area for employees to drink and eat and not at the prep areas.

     Official wording (code 6)

     Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use

   • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted employee slicing ready to eat cheese with bare hands. Discussed with management the no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods. Must wear use gloves, tongs or spoons. Priority #7-38-010. Citation issued.

     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: Noted hand wash sink at the kitchen prep on first floor and basement prep area not easily accessible with mop bucket and food storage containers infront of sinks.manager immediately had employees remove the mop sink and food containers. Instructed to have all hand wash sinks accessible at all times. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 10)

     Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

   • CriticalFood handling

     Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

     Inspector’s note: Noted upper compartment of ice machine not cleaned. Instructed to clean, sanitize and maintain.

     Official wording (code 16)

     Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

   • CriticalFood handling

     Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

     Inspector’s note: Noted employee washing dishes at the 3 compartment sink without setting it up to wash rinse and sanitize as required by the code. No sanitizer was used to set up the sink. Instructed management to always set up the sink when washing equipment. Manager immediately had employee set up the 3 compartment sink to wash rinse and sanitize using the chlorine. Priority violation #7-38-025

     Official wording (code 16)

     Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted assorted food items inside refrigeration units not properly labeled. Instructed to properly label all food items with product name including bulk food containers.

     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 inside walk-in cooler. Must provide proper, raised shelving to store food containers 6" off floor.

     Official wording (code 39)

     Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted serving plates on shelves at the kitchen prep area not properly stored. Instructed to invert all serving plates to prevent dust accumulation.

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted torn rubber gasket inside the door of the 3 door refrigeration unit at the kitchen prep and door of small refrigeration unit at the bar. Instructed to repair and maintain and/or replace. Also noted rusty and dirty shelves inside walk in cooler at the basement food prep/dry storage area. Instructed to detail clean, repaint with non toxic food grade paint and/or replace.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted cardboard boxes used to line shelves at the basement food prep/dry storage area. Instructed to clean and remove all cardboard boxes to prevent hiding places for pest.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted a large pots unable to fit inside the 3 compartment sink for proper washing, rinsing and sanitizing. Instructed to provide a procedure for proper washing and sanitizing of equipment or remove equipment.(large pots and pans)

     Official wording (code 48)

     Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Noted leaking faucet at the 3 compartment sink. Instructed to repair and maintain.

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted employee wash rooms on premise with garbage receptacles and no lids. Instructed to provide trash cans with lids at all women wash rooms and unisex wash rooms

     Official wording (code 53)

     Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted outside garbage dumpster overloaded and preventing proper lid closure. Instructed to always have dumpster lid closed to prevent food source for pest. Also noted outside grease container not maintained with thick grease on top of container. Instructed to detail clean and maintain grease container. Priority foundation #7-38-020(b). Priority foundation #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: Instructed to detail clean and maintain the following:- --floors underneath the prep table at the kitchen prep area -- dirty and dusty ceiling fans inside the walk in cooler and first floor kitchen prep area.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

4. Oct 5, 2023 Pass

   License · Pass

   5 general2 paperwork Show violations

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to seal or paint raw wood storage shelves in the basement storage area.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to refinish or replace cutting board with stain and deep seams on top of (2) prep cooler in the kitchen

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to repaint or replace rusty metal racks next to the prep table in the basement prep area.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to provide 3 working drain stoppers at 3 compartment sink in the kitchen and 3 compartment bar sink behind the bar.

     Official wording (code 48)

     Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to detail clean and maintain condenser fan cover with dust accumulation in the basement walk-in cooler.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: Observed 4 out of 10 employees without food handler certificate. Instructed to provide certificate for each employee.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: One certified food manager without an allergen training certificate. Instructed management, any person with city of chicago food service sanitation certificate to comply with allergen training certification.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required