La Coco Mexican Food

October 21, 2024 · Fail

🪳cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings12
critical findings1

← Back to the current restaurant page

Failed findings

handwashing sink blocked or barecritical

Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
Inspector note: OBSERVED NO HANDSOAP PROVIDED AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND IN THE MENS WASHROOM.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN HANDSOAP AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C),CITATION ISSUED. • OBSERVED NO HANDPAPER TOWELS PROVIDED AT HANDWASHING SINK IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA NEXT TO THE COOKING EQUIPMENTS AND INSIDE THE WOMENS WASHROOM.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN HANDPAPER TOWELS AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C),CONSOLIDATED WITH ABOVE CITATION.
code 10Priority
cold food not cold enough

Official wording: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
Inspector note: OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF (TCS FOODS) INSIDE OF THE FOLLOWING COOLERS:THE KITCHEN 2-DOOR PREP LINE COOLER DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE COOKING EQUIPMENTS.OBSERVED SLICED TOMATOES AT 58.9F,SHELLED EGGS AT 60.1F. THE (1) DOOR KITCHEN STAND-UP COOLER:MOZZARELLA CHEESE AT 56.8F,HOT DOGS AT 60.1F,COOKED GREEN PEAS WITH CARROTS AT 53.7F,AND BEEF AT 58.9F.MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 5#'S OF FOOD WORTH $50.00.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN ALL COLD (TCS FOODS) AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.
code 22
food prep surfaces dirty

Official wording: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment For Temperature Control
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING COOLERS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA:THE 2-DOOR PREP LINE COOLER DIRECTLY ACROSS THE COOKING EQUIPMENTS WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 68.8F AND THE KITCHEN (1) DOOR STAND-UP COOLER WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 58.2F.THE COOLER WAS USED TO STORE (TCS FOODS) SUCH AS SLICED TOMATOES AND BEEF ETC.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SAID COOLERS AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED REFRIGERATION REPAIR SERVICE.INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL REPAIRED.THE SAID REFRIGERATION UNITS ARE TAGGED "HELD FOR INSPECTION" AT THIS TIME.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.
code 33
pests in the house

Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
Inspector note: OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST INFESTATION ON THE PREMISES WITH OVER 500+ RODENT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT.OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 100 RODENT (MICE)DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR AND STORAGE SHELFS BEHIND THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER AND ON FLOOR IN STORAGE IN CORNERS OF THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND UNDERNEATH THE KITCHEN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA AND ON THE FLOOR BEHIND AND UNDERNEATH THE THE MILK REFRIGERATION COOLER OBSERVED (2) LIVE COCKROACHES ON THE KITCHEN STORAGE SHELF ABOVE THE CHEST FREEZER AND UNDERNEATH THE COOKING EQUIPMENTS AND ON FLOOR AROUND A SPEAKER AT SMALL STAGE AREA IN CUSTOMER DINING ROOM AND APPROXIMATELY 100 RODENT(MICE)DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT THE CLUTTERED STORAGE AREA NEAR THE REAR SIDE STAIRCASE AND SIDE EXIT DOOR ALSO,APPROXIMATELY 400 RODENT (MICE)DROPPINGS ON THE FLOORS UNDER AND AROUND THE BASEMENT CHEST FREEZERS AND ON TOP OF THE STORAGE SHELVES IN THE BASEMENT DRY STORAGE AREA.OBSERVED (2) DEAD MICE ON GLUE BOARDS ON THE FLOOR BEHIND THE CHEST FREEZERS IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND REMOVE ALL RODENT (MICE) DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS.ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A),CITATION ISSUED.
code 38
Personal Cleanliness

Inspector note: OBSERVED MANAGER ON DUTY WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.
code 40
Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled

Inspector note: INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE AND INVERT POTS/PANS STORED ON SHELF UNDERNEATH THE KITCHEN PREP TABLES TO PREVENT CONTAIMINATION BEFORE USE AND MAINTAIN.
code 44
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: OBSERVED RUST ON THE WIRE STORAGE RACKS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND STORAGE RUSTY SHELF UNDERNEATH THE KITCHEN PREP TABLE.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST AND REPAINT OR REPLACE THE SHELVES AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED STAINED COLOR CODED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
code 47
Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips

Inspector note: OBSERVED A SMALL KNIFE PUNCTURE INSIDE THE WASH COMPARTMENT OF THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR SO THAT IT IS SMOOTH,EASILY CLEANABLE AND NO WATER LEAK.
code 48
plumbing acting up

Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Inspector note: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE GREASE TRAP,PREP TABLES,FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE CHEST FREEZER AND PREP COOLERS,STORAGE SHELVES BEHIND THE FRONT SERVICE COUNTER AND DRY STORAGE SHELVINGS IN THE BASEMENT,AND DEEP FRYER.
code 49
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND ORGANIZE BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS AND REMOVE CLUTTER/UNNECESSARY ITEMS BROKEN REFRIGERATION DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND ELEVATE MOPS,BROOMS CLEANING EQUIPMENTS OFF THE FLOOR AT LEAST 6" INCHES TO FACILITATE CLEANING AND MAINTAIN. • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA AND BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS AND INSIDE THE WALK-IN-COOLER ESPECIALLY UNDER AND AROUND HEAVY COOKING EQUIPMENTS,DEEP FRYER,CHEST FREEZERS AND IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS/UNDERNEATH ALL DRY STORAGE RACKS.
code 55
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED BURNT-OUT LIGHT BULB FOR LIGHT FIXTURE OVER THE KITCHEN FOOD PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BURNT-OUT LIGHT BULB AND MAINTAIN ADEQUATE LIGHTING AT ALL TIMES. • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD/FILTERS TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF GREASE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
code 56
All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training

Inspector note: OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED.
code 57

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on November 3, 2023: 12 findings appeared for the first time.

Browse this restaurant's inspections

More restaurants in Albany Park

See every restaurant in Albany Park →

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.