La Esperanza Restaurant

Year by year

Inspections

1. Feb 2, 2026 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

     HOOD FILTERS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL GREASE BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

2. Apr 25, 2025 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

     2-402.11 OBSERVED MALE FOOD HANDLERS WITH BEARD AND WITHOUT A BEARD GUARD. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

   • Severity not stated

     SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

     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.

3. Mar 27, 2024 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

     4-602.11(B-E) OBSERVED A MINOR BROWNISH SUBSTANCE LOCATED ON THE PANEL OF THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

   • Severity not stated

     CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

     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.

   • Severity not stated

     WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

     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.

4. Apr 27, 2023 Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
   • Serious Priority

     PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

     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.

   • Severity not stated

     PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

     FOUND UTILITY SINK NOT DRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

5. Apr 21, 2022 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

     6-301.14 OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN LOCATED BEHIND THE BAR AT THE HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

   • Severity not stated

     PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

     5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED BEHIND THE BAR. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.

6. Apr 14, 2021 Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)

   Result: Pass.

7. Apr 7, 2021 Canvass · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
   • Not serious Priority Foundation Corrected on site

     CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

     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

   • Not serious Priority Foundation

     FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

     OBSERVED THE ICE MACHINE WITH BLACK AND PINK SLIMY SUBSTANCE INSIDE. INSTRUCTED TO EMPTY, CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005

   • Severity not stated

     ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

     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

8. Sep 5, 2019 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     OBSERVED THE CEILING TILES, AND CEILING LIGHT SHIELD IN DISH AREA NOT CLEAN INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.

9. Aug 13, 2018 Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
   • Not serious Priority Foundation

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

     OBSERVED NO POLICY IN PLACE FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.

   • Not serious Priority Foundation

     PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

     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.

   • Severity not stated

     SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

     OBSERVED DISHES IN BASEMENT STORED IMPROPERLY. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT TO PREVENTCONTAMINATION.

   • Severity not stated

     PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

     REMOVE DUST BUILD-UP ON HOUSING OF FAN IN WALK-IN COOLER AND ON CEILING OF WALK-IN COOLER.

   • Severity not stated

     ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

     MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED. GIVEN 90 DAYS TO COMPLY.

10. Apr 28, 2017 License · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
    • Serious Critical

      POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE

      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.

    • Not serious Minor

      FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

      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.