What is Pho Cafe's health inspection score?

Pho Cafe has a SafeDine safety score of 82 out of 100 (Grade B). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Pho Cafe last inspected?

Pho Cafe was last inspected on May 27, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Pho Cafe have?

Pho Cafe has 13 total violations across 3 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Pho Cafe safe to eat at?

Pho Cafe has a good safety record with a score of 82/100. While there are some noted violations, overall compliance is solid.

Official Health Record

Pho Cafe

Name: Pho Cafe
Address: 232 W CERMAK RD, Chicago, 60616
Rating: 82

232 W CERMAK RD, Chicago

Last inspected 10mo ago

▲Improving

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0Good

Chinatown

Ranked #205 of 459 in Chinatown

Improving

3 inspections

Last: May 27, 2025

medium confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

33%

Clean Rate

4.3

Avg Violations

11 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Cross-contamination

Raw and cooked foods not properly separated

Temperature control

Food not kept at safe temperatures — risk of bacterial growth

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Pest issues

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Sanitation

Equipment or surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-18

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-1 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-5 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-3 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-7 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

+18 pts

100

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

How scoring works: Every restaurant starts at 100 points. Points are deducted for violations found during inspections.

Recent inspections are weighted more heavily. High priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact.

Location

232 W CERMAK RD, Chicago, IL 60616

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Violation Timeline

Apr 2024

1 inspections

1 high priority

2 intermediate

5 basic

Apr

May 2025

2 inspections

2 intermediate

3 basic

Inspection History

3 records on file

2 Canvass Re-Inspection1 Canvass

May 25

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionLatestCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

May 25

Canvass InspectionFail

2 Med3 Basic

5 total

84/100inspection score

−16 pts

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
OBSERVED TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES IN THE WALK-IN COOLER SUCH AS 10LBS OF EGG ROLL FILLING (PORK, CARROTS, NOODLES, BLACK FUNGUS) AT 50.0F. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL 10LBS AT $100. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF RODENT ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 50 MOUSE DROPPINGS IN THE WALL CORNERS BEHIND AND UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT IN KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Basic (3)

−6 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON FOOD PREP EQUIPMENT AND TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
OBSERVED FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT.

Base deductions−16 pts

Apr 24

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionPass

1 High2 Med5 Basic

8 total

70/100inspection score

−30 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
6-301.14: OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINKS ON SITE MISSING HANDWASHING SIGNAGE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
6-501.112: OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES ON THE FLOORS AND SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES ON THE FLOORS UNDER ALL COOKING, WASHING, AND SHELVING UNITS EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND THE FRONT SERVER STATION. OBSERVED DEAD ROACHES INSIDE OF THE SINGLE PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND INSIDE A CABINET WITH A PLASTIC DOOR IN THE BEVERAGE PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DEAD ROACHES, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
6-202.15: OBSERVED THE REAR EXIT DOOR LEADING TO THE OUTDOOR DUMPSTER NOT RODENT PROOF AT THE BOTTOM. INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

Basic (5)

−10 pts

39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY−2
3-305.11: OBSERVED TWO BIG BOWLS OF COOKED NOODLES STORED ON THE DRAINBOARD RIGHT NEXT THE TO LOW TEMEPERATURE DISHWASHING MACHINE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATED TO PREVENT CONTAMINATING FOOD AND MAINTAIN.
39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY−2
3-305.12: OBSERVED A TRAY WITH 4-5 WHOLE PINEAPPLES STORED ON THE FLOOR UNDER A SHELVING UNIT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REFRAIN FROM STORING FOOD ON THE FLOOR AND ATLEAST 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED A WHITE/YELLOWISH COLOR MATERIAL THAT LOOKS SEEMS TO BE CAULK INSIDE WHAT LOOKS LIKE IT USED TO BE A TWO COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED NEXT TO THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISHWASHING MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO USE FOOD GRADE MATERIALS IN MENTIONED SINK AND MAINTAIN.
48WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS−2
4-301.12: OBSERVED ONE OF THE WALLS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK MISSING, MAKING THE SINK LOOK LIKE A TWO COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE MISSING WALL AND MAINTAIN.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED CLUTTER AND FOOD ITEMS BEING ELEVATED WITH BUCKETS IN THE CORNER NEAR THE FREEZER UNITS ACROSS FROM THE REAR EXIT DOOR, IN THE REAR PREP/DISWHASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CLUTTER, REMOVE BUCKETS AND PROVIDE PROPER ELEVATING UNITS IN MENTIONED AREA.

Base deductions−30 pts

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Community Safety Reports

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Data source: Chicago CDPH · Official government inspection records

Grading System

85 – 100

Excellent

70 – 84

Good

Below 70

Fair

About SafeDine Scores

Scores are calculated using official government inspection data. High Priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact, followed by Intermediate and Basic violations. Community reviews can adjust the score by up to 5 points when 3+ reviews are submitted.

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