Did Cafe 53 pass its last health inspection?

Cafe 53 at 1369 E 53rd St was inspected on Apr 3, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass w/ Conditions". Across 14 inspections on record it has failed 4 times.

What violations were cited at Cafe 53?

The most recent inspection cited 4 violations, beginning with: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HANDSINK IN PREP AREA NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HANDSINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED H

What does "Risk 1 (High)" mean?

Chicago assigns every food establishment a risk category based on how much food handling it does. Risk 1 (High) covers full-service restaurants and is inspected most often; Risk 2 (Medium) and Risk 3 (Low) — such as places serving only pre-packaged food — are inspected less frequently.

Where does this inspection data come from?

The City of Chicago publishes every food-establishment inspection it performs, including the result and the full text of any violations cited. This page reads that dataset directly and updates as the city posts new inspections.

Restaurant inspections / Restaurant

Cafe 53

1369 E 53rd St, Chicago 60615 · Risk 1 (High)

Pass w/ Conditions

Most recent result

Apr 3, 2026

Inspections on record

Times passed

Times failed

Violations cited on Apr 3, 2026

#10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HANDSINK IN PREP AREA NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HANDSINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED HAND SOAP FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
#10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT THE HAND-SINK IN THE PREP AREA. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT PAPER TOWELS MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HAND SINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED PAPER TOWELS FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). SEE ABOVE.
#10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN REAR PREP AREA NOT ACCESSIBLE. BASIN WAS FILLED WITH UTENSILS AND A PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED THAT SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). SEE ABOVE.
#55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS. OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP CEILING AND WALL VENTS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FANS AND CEILING/WALL VENTS.

Inspection history

Date	Type	Result	Risk
Apr 3, 2026	Canvass	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Apr 29, 2025	Canvass	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Dec 10, 2024	Canvass	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Mar 27, 2024	Complaint	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Aug 7, 2020	Canvass Re-Inspection	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Jul 31, 2020	Canvass	Fail	Risk 1 (High)
Nov 4, 2016	Canvass	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Oct 29, 2015	Canvass Re-Inspection	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Oct 22, 2015	Canvass	Fail	Risk 1 (High)
Nov 7, 2013	Canvass	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Mar 29, 2012	Canvass	Pass w/ Conditions	Risk 1 (High)
Mar 25, 2011	License Re-Inspection	Pass	Risk 1 (High)
Mar 24, 2011	License Re-Inspection	Fail	Risk 1 (High)
Mar 11, 2011	License	Fail	Risk 1 (High)

Source

Food Inspectionsupdated weeklyofficial portal ↗

Inspection records are published by the Chicago Department of Public Health. A failed inspection does not necessarily mean an establishment closed — most are re-inspected after correcting violations.

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Cafe 53 — questions

Did Cafe 53 pass its last health inspection?: Cafe 53 at 1369 E 53rd St was inspected on Apr 3, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass w/ Conditions". Across 14 inspections on record it has failed 4 times.
What violations were cited at Cafe 53?: The most recent inspection cited 4 violations, beginning with: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HANDSINK IN PREP AREA NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HANDSINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED H
What does "Risk 1 (High)" mean?: Chicago assigns every food establishment a risk category based on how much food handling it does. Risk 1 (High) covers full-service restaurants and is inspected most often; Risk 2 (Medium) and Risk 3 (Low) — such as places serving only pre-packaged food — are inspected less frequently.
Where does this inspection data come from?: The City of Chicago publishes every food-establishment inspection it performs, including the result and the full text of any violations cited. This page reads that dataset directly and updates as the city posts new inspections.

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