Lito's Tamales

Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

Observed person in charge without proof of food safety management training during the time of inspection. Must provide.

City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate

Noted facility did not provide a valid city of Chicago food service sanitation certificate for employees working on site. Informed that a certified manager with a current city of Chicago certificate must be on premises at all times, and a valid certificate must remain posted on site whenever time and temperature control for safety(tcs) foods are being prepared, handled, and/or served. Priority foundation violation #7-38-012. Citation issued.

Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

Observed no written employee health policy on site. Instructed facility to establish an appropriate employee health policy and maintain verifiable signed copies on site for all food employees in acknowledgment of reporting agreement. Priority foundation violation #7-38-010. Citation issued.

Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

Observed no written procedures or supplies for responding to vomiting or diarrheal events. Supplies must include adequate sanitizer that eliminates norovirus. Instructed facility to provide a cleanup policy and supplies to properly handle bodily fluid spills on site. Priority foundation violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Observed hand sink in prep area and employee restroom not stocked with hand soap. Informed person in charge that hand soap must be available at hand sink in prep area and employee restrooms at all times. Food handler obtained hand soap for hand sink during time of inspection. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.

Food properly labeled; original container

Observed food stored in containers in all the coolers, walk-in cooler, and dry storage without proper labeling of name. Instructed the person in charge to provide a label reflecting the food item's name when food has been removed from its original packaging.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Observed no current pest control log book on the premises. Instructed the person in charge that a licensed pest control company and operator must provide at least 2 pest inspections a year and the reports must be maintained in the log book. Instructed to provide a current pest control log book and pest inspection reports. Priority foundation 7-38-020(c). Citation issued.

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

Observed milk crates being used as shelving throughout the prep and storage areas. Must remove and provide shelving that is 6" off the floor and provides floor accessibility to ensure adequate facility cleaning.

Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure

Observed no hot water on premises. Hot water was not observed at the following sinks: prep handsink, washbowl sink, and 3-compartment sink. Informed person in charge of hot water generation and distribution systems shall be sufficient to meet the peak hot water demands through the retail food establishment. Must correct and maintain. Priority violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Observed no commercial dumpster contract. Instructed to provide a contract with a licensed waste management operator. Priority foundation violation #7-38-020(b). Citation issued.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

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 manager to clean floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in all areas. Observed dust buildup on fan in walk-in cooler, light shields in cooking area and ceiling and wall vents in prep and storage areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain all fans, light shields and ceiling/wall vents.

All food employees have food handler training

Observed no proof of training for all food handlers. Instructed to provide and maintain records at all times.

City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate

Upon arrival, observed no certified food manager on site during the inspection while open and operating. Instructed certified food manager must be on site at all times while open and operating. Certified food manager arrived on site before the end of the walk-through. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012, citation issued

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Observed the front and rear doors not rodent proof at the bottom. Instructed to rodent proof and maintain.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Observed no recent pest control service report. Must provide and maintain all required pest control records and documents inside an adequate pest control log book. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020 (c), citation issued

In-use utensils: properly stored

Observed tonges stored on a pile of wiping cloths stored above the three compartment sink. Instructed to properly store and maintain.

Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled

Observed the serving spoons in the rear not inverted. Instructed to invert and maintain.

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

Observed the left water knob on the three compartment sink not able to operate water. Also observed the left side of the water knob on the handwashing sink in the toilet room not working. Instructed to repair and maintain.

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Observed three missing sink stoppers. Instructed to provide and maintain.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Observed the outerior and interior of the cold holding units in the rear in need of cleaning. Also, observed the shelves under the food prep tables with slight debris. Instructed to clean and maintain

Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure

Observed no hot running water on site. Handwashing sinks and warewashing hot water temperature found at 65.3-65.5f. Instructed must restore hot water at handwashing sink at 100f and warewashing sink at 110f and must be able to be maintained for the entire time the facility is open and operating. Priority violation 7-38-030(c), citation issued.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed the floors throughout the rear food prep/dishwashing area in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed the front closet in the lobby with clutter. Instructed to declutter and organize mentioned closet and maintain.

Previous core violation corrected

Observed previous core violations not corrected from 05/14/2024, report # 2594535 #47: observed non food items stored on floor of unused walkin cold holding units in backyard. Instructed to provide adequate sheving units to elevate all food and nonfood items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability and to prevent areas for pest harborage. #57: observed 1 employees working without food handler certificates. Instructed all employees must complete food handler training and maintain records thereof on site at all times. #58: observed no allergen training for any city of Chicago certified foodservice manager. Instructed to provide proof of allergen training for all city of Chicago certified foodservice managers. Priority foundation:7-42-090, citation issued

City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate

Observed no certified manager from 10:35am to 11:0am while tcs foods such as chicken tamales were prepared. At 11:00am certified manager jose parada arrived on site. Instructed to maintain employee holding city of Chicago foodservice manager certificate on site at all times. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012. Citation issued.

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 verifiable health policy signed by all employees on site at all times. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010. Citation issued.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Observed exposed hand washing sink in prep area rendered inaccessible by container of snow bal being placed inside it. Instructed to maintain all exposed hand washing sinks open and accessible for hand washing. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c). Citation issued.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Observed no paper towels at exposed hand washing sink in prep area. Instructed to maintain paper towels at all exposed hand washing sinks at all times. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c). Citation combined with above violation

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Observed food items stored on floor in walk-in cooler. Instructed manager to elevate all food six inches off floor.

Personal cleanliness

Observed a food handling employee not wearing a hair restraint while preparing food. Instructed management that all food handling employees must wear a hair restraint while preparing food.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Observed soiled wiping cloths stored on prep tables. Instructed manager to store in sanitizing solution between uses.

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

Observed non food items stored on floor of unused walkin cold holding units in backyard. Instructed to provide adequate sheving units to elevate all food and nonfood items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability and to prevent areas for pest harborage

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

Observed torn/damaged rubber gasket on door of the cooler in the front prep area. Instructed to repair or replace gasket.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Observed food debris in interior of all three cold holding units(two one door refrigerators and two door cold holding unit) in kitchen. Instructed to detail clean and maintain

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Observed washroom door not self-closing. Instructed manager to repair self-closing device on washroom door.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed mop drying in mop bucket. Instructed to install mop drying rack for proper drainage and drying of wet mops to prevent pest breeding.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

6-202.15: observed openings on westside and base of front entrance door. Instructed to seal all outer openings to prevent pest entrance.

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

4-101.19: observed non food items stored on floor of unused walkin cold holding units in backyard. Instructed to provide adequate sheving units to elevate all food and nonfood items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability and to prevent areas for pest harborage.

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

4-501.11: observed missing door handle cover on one door refrigerator underneath window. Instructed to replace door handle cover and maintain.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

4-601.11(c): observed food debris in interior of all three cold holding units(two one door refrigerators and two door cold holding unit) in kitchen. Instructed to detail clean and maintain.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

6-501.19: observed self closing device on washroom door not working. Instructed to repair self closing device on washroom door and maintain.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

6-501.114: observed two eye cooking equipment in backyard and unused double upright oven in kitchen. Instructed to remove unecessary items from kitchen and backyard.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

6-501.11: observed holes around electrical outlets in ceiling in dining area. Instructed to smoothly seal holes for ease of cleanability. Observed stained ceiling tiles in washroom. Instructed to replace stained ceiling tiles and maintain. Observed cracked/damaged or missing floor tiles in kitchen. Instructed to repair or replace all cracked, damaged or missing floor tiles in kitchen and maintain. Observed damaged wall next to register area. Instructed to repair wall and maintain.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

6-501.16: observed mop drying in mop bucket. Instructed to install mop drying rack for proper drainage and drying of wet mops to prevent pest breeding.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

6-501.12: observed debris in corners in hallway leading to washroom, underneath equipment, in corners and along walls of floor in kitchen and dead moth and spider on walls leading to washroom. Instructed to detail clean walls and floors in facility and maintain.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Observed approximately five rat droppings and four mouse droppings in utility closet. Instructed to eliminate pest activity, remove droppings and clean affected areas. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a)

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Observed openings on westside and base of front entrance door. Instructed to seal all outer openings to prevent pest entrance.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Observed ice machine with ice used for human consumption in enclosure in dining area with no locked door preventing contamination from public. Instructed to install door on ice machine enclosure to prevent contamination from public. Priority violation 7-38-005

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

Observed damaged gasket at bottom of one door refrigerator underneath window. Instructed to repair or replace gasket on one door refrigerator and maintain. Observed missing door handle cover on one door refrigerator underneath window. Instructed to replace door handle cover and maintain.

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

Observed non food items stored on floor of unused walkin cold holding units in backyard. Instructed to provide adequate sheving units to elevate all food and nonfood items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability and to prevent areas for pest harborage.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Observed food debris in interior of all three cold holding units(two one door refrigerators and two door cold holding unit) in kitchen. Instructed to detail clean and maintain.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Observed white substance on interior of handwashing sink in kitchen. Instructed to detail clean and maintain.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Observed self closing device on washroom door not working. Instructed to repair self closing device on washroom door and maintain.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed debris in corners in hallway leading to washroom, underneath equipment, in corners and along walls of floor in kitchen and dead moth and spider on walls leading to washroom. Instructed to detail clean walls and floors in facility and maintain.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed holes around electrical outlets in ceiling in dining area. Instructed to smoothly seal holes for ease of cleanability. Observed damaged baseboards and wall underneath three compartment sink. Instructed to repair wall and baseboard underneath three compartment sink and maintain. Observed stained ceiling tiles in washroom. Instructed to replace stained ceiling tiles and maintain. Observed cracked/damaged or missing floor tiles in kitchen. Instructed to repair or replace all cracked, damaged or missing floor tiles in kitchen and maintain. Observed damaged wall next to register area. Instructed to repair wall and maintain.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed mop drying in mop bucket. Instructed to install mop drying rack for proper drainage and drying of wet mops to prevent pest breeding.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Observed two eye cooking equipment in backyard and unused double upright oven in kitchen. Instructed to remove unecessary items from kitchen and backyard.