RestaurantLicence 2411699

Cafe El Meson Incorporated

4631 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago 60632

Latest verdictPassOct 2, 2026 · 11 days ago

Inspections9since Jul 7, 2015

Fail rate11.1%1 of 9 verdictscitywide 22.4% · below average

City risk ratingHigh riskWhat this kind of business could do if it went wrong — not a grade it earned.

Read the pairs, not the count. A failure is normally followed within days by a re-inspection, and that re-inspection is a second row here. On the timeline below they sit almost on top of each other — one bad day, two marks.

The whole record

Pass67%
Conditional22%
Fail11%

9 inspections from 2015 to 2026 · hover a mark

20172019202120232025

PassOct 2, 2026Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  3-307.11: observed faucet used for obtaining water to rinse equipment attached to water line of handwashing sink. Instructed person in charge to remove faucet used for obtaining water from handwashing sink to prevent contamination of equipment used for making beverages instructed person in charge to utilize three compartment sink to obtain water.
2. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  4-101.19: observed boxes and containers stored on floor in utility closet. Instructed to provide adequate shelving units to elevate all food and non food items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability.
3. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  5-204.12: unable to locate backflow prevention device on ice machine. Instructed to install backflow prevention device on ice machine so that it shall be located so that it may be serviced and maintained.
4. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  6-501.11: observed damaged wall behind handwashing sink in first floor washroom. Instructed to smoothly repair wall behind handwashing sink in first floor washroom for ease of cleanability.
5. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  6-501.12: observed splashes on wall above and to the right of three compartment sink. Observed buildup on exterior of grease trap near floor. Observed equipment on floor underneath three compartment sink and prep table across from three compartment sink. Instructed to clean in said areas and maintain
6. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  6-501.14: observed dust buildup on ceiling vent cover in second floor washroom. Instructed to clean ceiling vent cover in second floor washroom and maintain.
ConditionalAug 27, 2026CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Observed cold tcs foods, held at improper temperatures ranging between 51.3-66.7f. Observed cold tcs foods, turkey(51.3f), ham(55.9f), garlic in oil(66.7f),sliced tomatoes(62.6), spinach(62.6f) and mayo(62.8-63.1f) held at improper temperature. Instructed all cold tcs food must be held at 41f or below. Corrected on site manager voluntarily discarded and denatured food valued at $10 weighing 7lbs priority violation 7-38-005 citation issued
2. 33
  Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
  Observed small three door cold holding unit at improper ambient temperature of 63.9f. Instructed all cold holding units must be maintained at 41f or below. Corrected on site held for inspection tag placed on small three door cold holding unit. Priority violation 7-38-005 citation issued
3. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  Observed faucet used for obtaining water to rinse equipment attached to water line of handwashing sink. Instructed person in charge to remove faucet used for obtaining water from handwashing sink to prevent contamination of equipment used for making beverages instructed person in charge to utilize three compartment sink to obtain water.
4. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed boxes and containers stored on floor in utility closet. Instructed to provide adequate shelving units to elevate all food and non food items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability.
5. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Unable to locate backflow prevention device on ice machine. Instructed to install backflow prevention device on ice machine so that it shall be located so that it may be serviced and maintained.
6. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed splashes on wall above and to the right of three compartment sink. Observed buildup on exterior of grease trap near floor. Observed equipment on floor underneath three compartment sink and prep table across from three compartment sink. Instructed to clean in said areas and maintain.
7. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed damaged wall behind handwashing sink in first floor washroom. Instructed to smoothly repair wall behind handwashing sink in first floor washroom for ease of cleanability.
8. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Observed dust buildup on ceiling vent cover in second floor washroom. Instructed to clean ceiling vent cover in second floor washroom and maintain.
PassOct 9, 2025CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed torn door gasket inside of refrigerator. Instructed to replace.
2. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Observed no backflow preventer device on ice machine. Instructed to install to ensure device can be located, serviced, and maintained.
3. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed unused convection oven in storage area next to back door. Instructed to remove all unnecessary items, organize, and maintain.
4. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed grease and food debris on back wall under countertop where fryers are stored. Instructed to increase cleaning frequency to minimize buildup of grease and maintain.
PassJul 30, 2024Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  4-602.13 observed build-up of food residue in refrigerator and back of dish area. Instructed person in charge to clean and maintain.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  6-201.11 observed wall between kitchen and front prep area with damaged and peeling paint. Instructed person in charge to repair and maintain.
FailJul 22, 2024CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 16
  Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
  Observed build-up of mold-like substance on interior of ice machine (ice used for human consumption). Instructed the person in charge to discard, clean, and maintain. Priority foundation #7-38-005. Citation issued.
2. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Observed build-up of food residue in refrigerator and back of dish area. Instructed person in charge to clean and maintain.
3. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed wall between kitchen and front prep area with damaged and peeling paint. Instructed person in charge to repair and maintain.
PassJul 31, 2023CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 41
  Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
  Observed wet wiping cloths stored on the handwashing sinks and cutting boards in the food prep area. Instructed to store wiping cloths in proper sanitizing solution when not in use.
2. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Three compartment sink stoppers unable to properly hold water. Instructed provide or replace sink stoppers.
3. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  No backflow device for ice machine in the food prep area. Instructed to provide.
4. 53
  Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
  Observed no lids on the trashcans in the restrooms. Instructed to provide.
5. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed spilled food debris on the floors in between shelving and cooking equipment in the back rear storage area. Instructed to clean and manintain.
6. 58
  Allergen training as required
  All certified food protection managers must provide allergen awareness training.
ConditionalNov 6, 2019CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 3
  Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
  No employee health policy in place. Instd to provide and maintain verifiable employee health policy. Priority foundation 7-38-010.
2. 5
  Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
  No procedure in place for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events. Instd to provide and maintain. Priority foundation 7-38-005.
3. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Missing handwash signage at handwash sinks. Instd to provide and maintain.
4. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Cutting board at prep cooler stained with deep, dark grooves, instd to replace cutting board and maintain same.
5. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Missing outlet cover at outlet next to upright cooler. Instd to replace maintain.
6. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Floor along wallbase and in corners in prep area need detailed cleaning, free of debris.
PassNov 13, 2017CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 33
  Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
  Observed the interior of the two toaster ovens, and drip trays not clean, instructed to clean and sanitize. Also clean and sanitize cutting boards.
2. 38
  Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
  Observed the three compartment sink basins not large enough for complete submersion of large baking pans,plastic containers, and bus pans, instructed to provide 3 compartment sink large enough for complete submersion of the largest piece of equipment.
PassJul 7, 2015LicenseRisk 1 (High)
1. 35
  Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
  Wall in prep area with chipped, peeling paint. Instd to remove peeling paint. Wall outlet cover missing in prep area. Provide same.

Fails sit above the line, passes below. Every inspection the city has published for this licence.

On the street

Apple Maps street-level imagery. Click to look around the block.

What it gets cited for

5511×
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
515×
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
474×
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
392×
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
562×
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
332×
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
492×
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
221×
Proper cold holding temperatures

Counted across every inspection on record here. A code that keeps coming back is the more telling signal.

Source

Published by the Chicago Department of Public Health as Food Inspections, updated weekly. This page shows every row the city holds under licence 2411699 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.