Restaurant · Chicago, IL

La Penca De Jalisco Corp

Name: La Penca De Jalisco Corp
Address: 3640 W 59th St, Chicago, IL

3640 W 59th St

Last inspected Mar 6, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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SteadyThe last two inspections recorded a similar number of violations. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

4 inspections

Canvass

Mar 6, 2026

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED IN REAR STORAGE AREA ON SHELVING. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD SO SURFACE IS SMOOTH AND EASILY 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

OBSERVED SHELVING IN FRONT TWO DOOR COLD HOLD UNIT WITH PEELING PAINT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.

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 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED WOMEN'S RESTROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE 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 6, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 24, 2025

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

MISSING HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT REAR HANDWASH SINK. INSTD TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE AND MAINTAIN

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

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

Inspector’s notes

PLASTIC LINING ON BOTTOM OF TABLE UNDER FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTD TO REMOVE LINING AND MAINTAIN SURFACE EASILY 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 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

RAW WOOD SUPPORT BEAMS AND OTHER SURFACES IN REAR NEAR HANDWASH SINK AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTD TO SEAL ALL RAW WOOD AND MAINTAIN SO AS SURFACES TO BE SMOOTH, EVEM, AND EASILY 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 24, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass Re-Inspection

Mar 21, 2024

Pass

2 recorded violations

notedCode 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

2-102.13: MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-501.113: MAINTAINENCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR WITH SINGLE SERVICE STORAGE AND DRY STORAGE. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA ONLY

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 21, 2024 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 14, 2024

Fail

4 recorded violations

notedCode 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

NO HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR AREA WHERE NEWLY INSTALLED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED. INSTD TO INSTALL HANDWASH SINK IN SAME AREA WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY FOUNDATION

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

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

MAINTAINENCE TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED IN REAR WITH SINGLE SERVICE STORAGE AND DRY STORAGE. INSTD TO STORE IN DESIGNATED AREA ONLY

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 25Food temperature

Official wording

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

Inspector’s notes

MISSING DISCLOSURE FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY ON THE MENU. INSTRUCTED TO DISCLOSE ON THE MENU WHICH FOODS (EX, EGGS, STEAK) CAN BE ORDERED UNDER COOKED/COOKED TO ORDER WITH AN ASTERISK NEXT TO THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS; AND THEN BY ASTERISKING THEM TO A FOOTNOTE THAT STATES THESE ITEMS ARE SERVED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED OR CONTAIN (OR MAY CONTAIN) RAW OR UNDERCOOKED INGREDIENTS AND ALSO A REMINDER STATEMENT SUCH AS "Consuming raw or undercooked MEATS, POULTRY, seafood, shellfish, or EGGS may increase your RISK of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions" PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005

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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 14, 2024 · Original Source