RestaurantLicence 1592606

Cafe Utjeha, INC.

5350 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago 60625

Latest verdictConditionalNov 26, 2025 · 10 months ago

Inspections12since Feb 16, 2011

Fail rate8.3%1 of 12 verdictscitywide 22.4% · below average

City risk ratingMedium 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

Pass50%
Conditional42%
Fail8%

12 inspections from 2011 to 2025 · hover a mark

20112013201520172019202120232025

ConditionalNov 26, 2025CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 1
  Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
  The person in charge does not have a valid city of Chicago sanitation certificate. Priority foundation violation.
2. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  No valid city of Chicago sanitation certificate posted on the premises. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012 citation issued.
3. 6
  Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
  Noted employee eating and drinking in the food prep area. Must not eat in the food prep area and all beverages must be in a covered container.
4. 16
  Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
  Some areas in the the interior of the ice machine in need of cleaning.
5. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  Must not store any utensils, water pitchers, equipment next to or surrounding the prep hand washing sink.
6. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Must provide a lid for the ice bin in the food prep area.
7. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Top wooden portion of the wood counter/prep surface in prep area in poor repair with chipping damaged wood. Instructed to replace to be smooth and cleanable.
8. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Noted peeling plastic on the top portion of the ice machine. Must remove to be smooth and cleanable.
9. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  No backflow prevention device located on the utility service sink with a hose attached. Must provide a visible backflow prevention device to be serviced and maintained.
10. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  No proof of food handler training or certificates for all employees. Must provide.
11. 62
  Compliance with clean indoor air ordinance
  Noted five, dirty with ash, ashtrays in the rear enclosed dining room of the establishment. Instructed owner there is no smoking allowed inside retail food establishments. Citation issued 7-32-020 (c)
PassMay 11, 2021CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
ConditionalJun 11, 2020CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  No city of Chicago certified food manager on site during the inspection while the temperature control for safety foods (milk) has been prepared and served. Instructed a city of Chicago certified food manager must be on site at all times foods are being prepared and served. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012.citation issued
2. 3
  Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
  Manager provided no proof of employee health policy on site. Instructed to provide an employee health policy that includes a signed acknowledgement from each employee. Priority foundation. 7.38.010. No citation issued.
3. 36
  Thermometers provided & accurate
  Observed no probe thermometer for taking food temperatures.must provide.(priority foundation-no citation issued) 7-38-005
4. 44
  Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
  Must remove single service food utensils and cups stored in kitchen cabinets under hand washing sink
5. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Backflow prevention devices not located cappuccino/espresso machine. Must install backflow prevention devices or air gap between the water supply inlet and the unit so it may be located to be serviced and maintained
6. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed carpet in lady's bathroom.must remove to maintain easy cleanable surfaces
ConditionalJun 17, 2019CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 5
  Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
  Observed no clean-up of vomiting and diarrhea procedure on site during inspection but no complete clean-up kit on premises during inspection.missing mop head and mask. Instructed to have said procedure along with required equipment for clean-up. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued. 7-38-005
2. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Backflow prevention devices not located at ice machine and cappuccino/espresso machine. Must install backflow prevention devices or air gap between the water supply inlet and the unit so it may be located to be serviced and maintained
3. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Must install proper drain to sewage on drain originated from coffee machine
4. 53
  Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
  Must provide toilet room receptacle with cover for sanitary napkins in lady's bathroom
5. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Must repair walls by reach in cooler in utility room
ConditionalAug 21, 2018CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 3
  Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
  2-102.14(a)-no employee health poilicy. Must provide. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-012(a) no citation issued.
2. 5
  Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
  2-501.11- no procedure for cleaning after an employee or a patron experiences vomiting and/or diarrhea. Must provide. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005 no citation issued.
3. 23
  Proper date marking and disposition
  3-501.17(c)a refrigerated ready to eat time temperature control for safety food must be properly labeled and dated and maintain. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005 no citation issued.
4. 41
  Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
  3-304.14(d)-wiping cloth for wiping the prep tables, serving counter,dining tables must be stored on a bucket with sanitizing solution.
5. 43
  In-use utensils: properly stored
  3-304.12(e)- ice scoop must be stored on a separate container handled up to prevent possible contamination.
PassJun 20, 2017Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 38
  Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
  No grease trap box at the dishwashing 3 compartment sink.instructed to install and maintain. No backflow prevention device at the coffee expresso machine at prep area.instructed to install a visible backflow prevention device and maintain.
FailJun 13, 2017CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 19
  Outside garbage waste grease and storage area; clean, rodent proof, all containers covered
  Outside garbage dumpster not maintained has a broken lid with approximately a 3"inch hole at corner of lid of said garbage dumpster.instructed to notify disposal company to repair/replace lid of said garbage dumpster and maintain container covered,rodent proofed at all times.serious violation 7-38-020.
2. 38
  Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
  No grease trap box at the dishwashing 3 compartment sink.instructed to install and maintain. No backflow prevention device at the coffee expresso machine at prep area.instructed to install a visible backflow prevention device and maintain.
3. 40
  Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
  No thermometer inside the refrigerator at prep area.instructed to provide and maintain a visible thermometer.
PassMay 21, 2015CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 38
  Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
  No three sink stoppers for three compartment sink, instructed to provide,
PassSep 9, 2014CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 32
  Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
  Front storage cabinets and under counter top euquipment not clean. Instructed to detail clean nad sanitize all food contact surfaces.
2. 34
  Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
  Floor along wall base and behind equipment not clean. Instructed to detail clean daily.
3. 43
  Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
  Ice scoop not properly stored. Instructed to store in sanitize holder or container.
PassAug 26, 2013CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 33
  Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
  Food debris and dust on interior/exterior of equipment; instructed to clean/sanitize; coolers, freezer, cabinets, mop sink and ice machine.
2. 34
  Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
  Debris/food debris build-up on floors; instructed to clean floors at prep area and mop/storage closet, under, behind equipment at corners and along walls.
3. 35
  Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
  Observed large openings along north walls behind prep area; instructed to repair wall/seal openings to prevent pest entry.
4. 38
  Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
  No back flow preventer on mop sink, instructed to provide back flow preventer or cut threads on faucet.
5. 40
  Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
  No thermometer for one door prep reach in cooler, instructed to provide a thermometer.
6. 41
  Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
  Observed clutter inside mop/storage closet; instructed to remove clutter, clean and organize to prevent pest harborage. Articles must be stored off floor, away from walls.
7. 43
  Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
  Ice scoop improperly stored; instructed to properly stored in an approved sanitizer.
ConditionalNov 20, 2012CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 21
  * certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served
  No certified manager on site while serving smoothies, teramisu, cheese cake,milk,ice cream,etc. One city of Chicago certificate posted on the wall,but the said person is not on site. Citation issued serious 7-38-012.
2. 32
  Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
  Must defrost the reach in cooler and reach in freezer with heavy ice accumulated and maintain.
3. 34
  Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
  Must clean in detail the floor around and behind the water heater and maintain.
4. 35
  Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
  Must seal all the gaps/crevices around the conduit and pipes inside the storage room.
5. 40
  Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
  Must replace broken thermometer inside the reach in cooler beside the front counter. Must provide visible thermometer in reach in cooler behind front counter, and reach in freezer in the storage room.
6. 43
  Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
  All wash cloths used for wiping the front counter, coolers, dining tables, must be stored in a bucket with sanitizing solution.
7. 70
  No smoking regulations
  Found disposable glass being use as an astrays with cigarette butts inside, in all dining tables in the patio. Instructed manager that all astrays shall be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Citation issued 7-32-020(c). Clean indoor air ordinance.
PassFeb 16, 2011CanvassRisk 2 (Medium)
1. 33
  Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
  All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage. Must clean cabinets thru-out prep area.
2. 34
  Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
  The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. Must clean floors thru-out premises, at corners and along walls.
3. 35
  Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
  The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned. Must repair east wall inside mens washroom.
4. 41
  Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
  Must clean and organize mop closet to prevent pest harborage.
5. 43
  Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
  Between uses and during storage ice dispensing utensils and ice receptacles shall be stored in a way that protects them from contamination.

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

435×
In-use utensils: properly stored
514×
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
384×
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
344×
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
413×
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
403×
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
353×
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
22×
City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate

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 1592606 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.