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Cruz Blanca Brewery & Taqueria And Lena Brava

September 10, 2025 · Fail

🪳cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeComplaint Re-Inspection
failed findings9
critical findings1

Failed findings

water/temperature at the sink offcritical

Official wording: No Bare Hand Contact With Rte Food Or A Pre-Approved Alternative Procedure Properly Allowed
Inspector note: 3-301.11(B) OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE HANDLE READY-TO-EAT FOODS (TORTILLAS) WITH THEIR BARE HANDS IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT NO BARE HAND CONTACT IS ALLOWED WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
code 9Priority
pests in the house

Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
Inspector note: 6-501.111 OBSERVED APPROX. 10 LIVE COCKROACHES ON THE FLOOR AND WALLS OF THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA, DISHWASHING AREAS AND MECHANICAL ROOM. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY fOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
code 38
Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled

Inspector note: 4-903.12 OBSERVED CLEAN FOOD EQUIPMENT STORED IN AN OPEN ROOM IN THE WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE WASHROOM IN THE BASEMENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT CLEAN EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE STORED IN THE WASHROOMS.
code 44
plumbing acting up

Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Inspector note: 4-602.13 CLEAN THE PREP TABLE BEHIND THE LENA CRUZ 1ST FLOOR BAR.
code 49
Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned

Inspector note: 5-501.17 OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL FEMALE WASHROOMS. • 6-202.14 OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON THE WASHROOM DOOR IN THE BASEMENT WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
code 53
Garbage & Refuse Properly Disposed; Facilities Maintained

Inspector note: 5-501.116 CLEAN THE TOP OF THE OUTSIDE GREASE DUMPSTER IN THE ALLEY.
code 54
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: 6-501.12 CLEAN THE FLOOR AND CEILING TILES IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS. CLEAN THE WALLS OF THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS. CLEAN THE WALLS AND FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE CRUZ BLANCA TACO BAR FOOD PREP AREA. CLEAN THE FLOOR DRAINS THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES. • 6-501.11 REPLACE THE BROKEN FLOOR TILES UNDERNEATH THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE CRUZ BLANCA TACO BAR AREA. SEAL THE OPENINGS IN THE WALLS OF THE BASEMENT DISHWASHING AREA.
code 55
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: 6-303.11 OBSERVED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN THE 2ND FLOOR DISHROOM LOCATED NEXT TO THE LENA CRUZA BAR. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING IN ALL AREAS WHERE DISHES ARE WASHED.
code 56
Previous Priority Foundation Violation Corrected

Inspector note: 8-404.13(B)(3) PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2622897 ON 8/26/25 NOT CORRECTED: 38 - OBSERVED OVER 100 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS AND 10 HOUSE FLIES ON THE WALL, CEILING AND FLYING AROUND IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS AND 1ST FLOOR LENA BRAVA BAR AND FOOD PREP AREA, AND 2ND FLOOR LENA BRAVA BAR. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.
code 59

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Fail on August 26, 2025: 3 findings appeared for the first time. 6 findings recurred. 2 previous findings did not recur.

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About this record

This record comes from Chicago Department of Public Health. Cooked keeps the official result and wording separate from its plain-English explanation so you can verify what the inspector actually published.

Source: Chicago Data Portal.