RestaurantLicence 2972466

La Bomba Food

3221 W Armitage Ave, Chicago 60647

Latest verdictFailOct 8, 2026 · 5 days ago

Inspections5since Jul 8, 2024

Fail rate40.0%2 of 5 verdictscitywide 22.4% · above 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

Pass20%
Conditional40%
Fail40%

5 inspections from 2024 to 2026 · hover a mark

20252026

FailOct 8, 2026ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 5
  Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
  Observed no written procedure posted or items outlined in the policy available on site for responding to vomit and diarrheal events that can occur in the food establishment. Intstructed to provide and maintain on site.priority foundation violation. #7-38-005. Citation issued.
2. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed the following hand sinks without hot water during the time of inspection. In use: front and basement prep areas. Both prep areas were in use at this time. Instructed to provide and maintain hot running water (100-120f) at all hand sinks as required for proper hand washing. Priority violation. #7-38-030 (c). Citation issued.
3. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no hand-drying provision available at the handwashing sink located in the middle prep area during the time of inspection. Instructed to provide and maintain at all times for proper handwashing. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-030 (c). Citation issued.
4. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no hand sanitizer available at the handsink located in the rear prep area while in use during the time of inspection. Instructed to provide and maintain at all times. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-030 (c). Citation consolidated with above violation.
5. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Observed the following food items at improper temperatures during the time of inspection. Approximately 40 lbs ground beef, 10 lbs ground meat, 50 lbs chicken stew, 20 lbs rice,10 lbs beef all stored in cooling units in front and rear prep area. Noted temperature ranging from 49-66f at this time. Instructed to hold all tcs foods @41f and below at all times as required. All said food was voluntarily discarded by pic. Total cost: $400. Priority violation. #7-38-005. Citation issued.
6. 28
  Toxic substances properly identified, stored, & used
  Observed parcha juice stored inside a premium dishliquid bucket and stored inside a 2-door cooling unit during the time of inspection. Per code, containers previously used to store posionous ot toxic materials may not be used to store or dispense food. Said juice was discarded at this time voluntarily. Instructed to store food in food-grade approved containers only. Priority violation. #7-38-005. Citation issued.
7. 36
  Thermometers provided & accurate
  Observed broken and or missing thermometers inside cooling units throughout prep areas. Instructed to provide and maintain
8. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed approximately 75 or more small black live flies flying throughout the basement prep area, standing on boxes containing produce, on stored kitchenware, on shelving units, on the surface of the walk-in cooler door, and on top of the prep table. Instructed to contact pest control for service. Must eliminate small fly activity on premises and maintain. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-020 (a). Citation issued.
9. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observdd cutting boards with deep cuts and dark grooves in prep area. Nstructed to replace and maintain
10. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Observed electrical outlets in front prep area, piping attached to and alongside hothold equipment in need of cleaning. Instructed to remove all accumulated grease and food debris to prevent pest harborage.
11. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Observed handsink located in front prep water pooling onto the floor once turned on. Instructed to repair said sink and maintain in good condition to prevent pest harborage.
12. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Instructed to remove all stacked and stored soiled unused equipment stored outside of backdoor leading to garbage receptacle area. Instructed to remove all unneccesary items to prevent pest harborage, must maintain premise.
13. +4 more
PassNov 25, 2025ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  Observed in basement pipes sweating and dripping above prep area instructed to wrap pipe in pipe insulation and maintain
2. 40
  Personal cleanliness
  Observed food handlers prepping food without hair restraints. Instructed person in charge that all food handlers must wear a hair restraint. Pic gave food handler hat
3. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed 2 door cooler in dish with torn gaskets, instructed to replace and maintain.
ConditionalJul 11, 2025CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Noted internal temperatures of the following time/temperature control for safety foods at improper cold holding temperature (egg wash 57f, sliced tomatoes 52f, whole raw egg 53f, and cooked ground pork 54f) in cold holding unit and walk-in cooler. Manager immediately and voluntarily disposed of 35 lbs of products worth $250.00 throughthe denaturing process. Priority violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.
2. 33
  Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
  Noted improper cold-hold temperature of 60.5°f. Informed all refrigerator units shall maintain a proper temperature of 41°f and below. Refrigerator unit must not be used until reinspected by the Chicago department of public health (cdph). Priority violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.
3. 37
  Food properly labeled; original container
  Noted no labels for bulk storage containers (flour and sugar). Instructed person in charge all bulk and working food ingredient containers must be labeled with contents name.
4. 44
  Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
  Observed service utensils stored between wall and 3-compartment sink. Person in charge was instructed to stop practice and rewash, sanitize and air dry the utensils.
5. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed can opener with food debris buildup. Instructed pic to remove, clean, sanitize, and maintain.
6. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed cutting boards in the main kitchen prep area with open seams and dark stains. Instructed to refinish or replace damaged or stained cutting boards and maintain at all times.
7. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed torn door gasket inside of the 2 door refrigerator. Instructed to replace and maintain.
8. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed missing and damaged floor tiles in the dry storage room. Instructed to repair to create a smooth and easily cleanable surface. Must maintain at all times.
9. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Observed a missing light shield in main kitchen ceiling light, near the 2-door refrigerator. Instructed to provide and maintain at all times.
ConditionalJul 10, 2024License Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 3
  Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
  Found no employee health policy at premises.priority foundation.no citation issued.7-38-010.must provide.
2. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Found no backflow prevention devices at ice machine waterline and mop sink faucet.must provide where they can be located and serviced.
3. 58
  Allergen training as required
  Sanitation manager with no allergen training.must provide.
FailJul 8, 2024LicenseRisk 1 (High)
1. 3
  Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
  Found no employee health policy at premises.priority foundation.no citation issued.7-38-010.must provide.
2. 5
  Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
  Found no vomit spill kit at premises.priority foundation.no citation issued.7-38-005.must provide.
3. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Found no handwashing signage at hand sinks.must provide.
4. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Found no hand sink at lower level preparation areas.priority foundation.no citation issued.7-38-030c.must provide.
5. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  Found no backflow prevention devices at ice machine waterline and mop sink faucet.must provide where they can be located and serviced.
6. 58
  Allergen training as required
  Sanitation manager with no allergen training.must provide.

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

105×
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
555×
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
474×
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
513×
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
52×
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
222×
Proper cold holding temperatures
562×
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
32×
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

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 2972466 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.