RecordWell Data

La Cafeteria

4459 W LAWRENCE AVE, Chicago, IL 60630 · Cook County

16cited violations
1serious tier
5inspections
9tier not stated

Establishment

Type
Restaurant (retail food serving meals) (Restaurant)
Inspected by
Chicago Department of Public Health
License / ID
2962391
Status
Risk 1 (High)
Official record
Chicago Department of Public Health inspection reports

Other public records for this business

Year by year

YearInspectionsViolationsSerious
2026251
2025210
20241100

Inspections

  1. Mar 27, 2026 Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
    • Severity not stated

      PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

      OBSERVED REAR FLOOR MISSING FLOOR TILES. WOOD IS BEING USED AS A SUBSTITUTE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE MISSING FLOOR TILES TO ENSURE FLOOR IS EASILY CLEANABLE.

  2. Mar 24, 2026 Canvass · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
    • Not serious Priority Foundation

      CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

      OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER IS ON SITE AT ALL TINES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

    • Not serious Priority Foundation

      ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

      OBSERVED OBSERVED 2 OF 3 HAND WASHING SINKS IN FACILITY WITH NO SOAP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE SOAP TO ALL HAND WASHING SINK. MANAGER HAD SOAP BOUGHT INSIDE AND PLACED AT HAND WASHING SINKS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.

    • Not serious Priority Foundation

      ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

      OBSERVED 3 OF 3 HAND WASHING SINKS WITH NO PAPER TOWELS/ HAND DRYING PROVISIONS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. MANAGER SUPPLIED PAPER TOWELS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION CONSOLIDATED.

    • Serious Priority

      SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

      OBSERVED INADEQUATE WASTE WATER DISPOSAL AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. WHEN ONE COMPARTMENT DRAINS ANOTHER ONE FLOODS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C). CITATION ISSUED

  3. Feb 24, 2025 Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)

    Result: Pass.

  4. Feb 3, 2025 Canvass · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
    • Not serious Priority Foundation

      PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

      OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT DATED 4/22/24 INSPECTION # 25931516 NOT CORRECTED INCLUDING VIOLATION #10 OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. VIOLATION #28 OBSERVED PROPANE TANK AND PROPANE POWERED HOT PLATES USED IN REAR PREP AREA FOR TEA PREPARATION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE PROPANE TANK AND EQUIPMENT FROM PREMISES AND ONLY USE APPROVED COOKING EQUIPMENT. #51 UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTER AT ESPRESSO MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.#56 6-304.11 OBSERVED TURBO CHEF OVEN IN REAR PREP AREA USED FOR EXTENSIVE COOKING SUCH AS PREPARING HAMBURGERS, EGGS, ETC. NOT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTIALATION. INSTRUCTED TO PLACE ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090

  5. Apr 22, 2024 License · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
    • Not serious Priority Foundation

      MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

      OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.

    • Not serious Priority Foundation

      PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

      OBSERVED NO KIT AND PROCEDURE ON SITE FOR REPSONDING TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA. LEFT ONE PAGER AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN PROCEDURE AND KIT CONTAINING ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES INCLUDING A SANITIZER RATED AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.

    • Severity not stated

      ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

      OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

    • Severity not stated

      TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

      OBSERVED PROPANE TANK AND PROPANE POWERED HOT PLATES USED IN REAR PREP AREA FOR TEA PREPARATION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE PROPANE TANK AND EQUIPMENT FROM PREMISES AND ONLY USE APPROVED COOKING EQUIPMENT.

    • Severity not stated

      PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

      UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTER AT ESPRESSO MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.

    • Severity not stated

      PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

      OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT (COOLERS, COFFEE EQUIPMENT, ETC) IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FROM PREMISES.

    • Severity not stated

      ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

      OBSERVED TURBO CHEF OVEN IN REAR PREP AREA USED FOR EXTENSIVE COOKING SUCH AS PREPARING HAMBURGERS, EGGS, ETC. NOT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTIALATION. INSTRUCTED TO PLACE ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.

    • Severity not stated

      ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

      OBSERVED BURNT OUT LIGHTBULB IN CEILING OF REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

    • Severity not stated

      ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

      OBSERVED 1 FOOD EMPLOYEE WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAININ AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

    • Severity not stated

      ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

      OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health. History last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is the inspector's wording. “Serious” is the source's own top tier. About this data.