Restaurant · Chicago, IL

La Choza Mexican Grill

Name: La Choza Mexican Grill
Address: 7022 N Clark St, Chicago, IL

7022 N Clark St

Last inspected Mar 7, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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More issues recentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

Canvass

Mar 7, 2025

Pass

5 recorded violations

notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

Inspector’s notes

INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE ICE BIN BY THE EDGE OF DOOR NOT CLEAN. BEGINING OF MINERAL BUILD-UP. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN UNIT.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

Inspector’s notes

A BUCKET WITH SANITIZE SOLUTION AND LINEN MUST BE PROVIDED AT PREP TABLES

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(B) MUST NOT USE ALUMINUM FOIL AS LINER FOR COOKING EQUIPMENT(SHELF ABOVE STOVE). MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

LEAKING FAUCET AT BASE OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THE BASE NECK OF FAUCET AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS PROFUSELY LEAKING.REPAIR ISSUE.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

DEBRIS UNDER SHELVES AND GREASE UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE KITCHEN, PREP AREA AND STORAGE AREA.CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 7, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass Re-Inspection

Mar 22, 2024

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 37Food source and labeling

Official wording

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Inspector’s notes

MUST LABEL FOOD PRODUCTS IN DRY CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME)FLOUR ETC.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

MUST NOT USE DUCT TAPE AS A MEANS OF REPAIR ON THE DOOR OF TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

FOOD SPILLAGE INSIDE THE REACH-IN FREEZER,CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 22, 2024 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 12, 2024

Fail

7 recorded violations

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

NO SOAP PROVIDED AT HANDWASHING SINK IN PREP/DISHROOM.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR PROPER HANDWASHING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION :7-38-030(C),CITATION ISSUED. ON 3-15-2024 FOUND SAID SINK WITH SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

Official wording

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

LARGE PAN OF COOKED CHICKEN PIECES AND BROTH AT TEMP 0F 49.6F TO 50.1F(POUNDS 30,VALUE 400); COOKED PORK RIBS AND VEGGIE AT TEMP OF 48.7F(POUNDS 25,VALUE 400).COLD FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 41F AND BELOW.FOOD DISCARDED AND DENATURED. PRIORITY VIOLATION:7-38-005.CONSOLIDATED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

FOOD SPILLAGE INSIDE THE REACH-IN FREEZER,CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 21Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

A LARGE PAN OF COOKED RICE STORED ON TOP DRAIN BOARD OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AT TEMP OF 112.6F TO 117.4F. POUNDS 20,COST 200. HOT FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 135F AND ABOVE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION: 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode 25Food temperature

Official wording

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

Inspector’s notes

3-603.11 MUST INDICATE ON MENU "COOK TO ORDER" PHRASE FOR EGGS,STEAKS, ETC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-005,

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode 37Food source and labeling

Official wording

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Inspector’s notes

MUST LABEL FOOD PRODUCTS IN DRY CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME)FLOUR ETC.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

MUST NOT USE DUCT TAPE AS A MEANS OF REPAIR ON THE DOOR OF TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 12, 2024 · Original Source