What is Pho Cafe's health inspection score?

Pho Cafe has a SafeDine safety score of 66 out of 100 (Grade C). 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 April 3, 2024. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Pho Cafe have?

Pho Cafe has 14 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 safety score of 66/100, which suggests room for improvement. Review the detailed inspection history on SafeDine for more information.

Official Health Record

Pho Cafe

Name: Pho Cafe
Address: 232 W CERMAK RD, Chicago, 60616
Rating: 66

232 W CERMAK RD , Chicago

Data may be outdated — inspected 4/3/2024

▲Improving

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0Fair

Chinatown

Ranked #345 of 459 in Chinatown

Improving

3 inspections

Last: Apr 3, 2024

low confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

33%

Clean Rate

4.7

Avg Violations

25 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Cross-contamination

Raw and cooked foods not properly separated

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Temperature control

Food not kept at safe temperatures — risk of bacterial growth

Pest issuesHigh Priority

Evidence of pests found during inspection

SanitationHigh Priority

Equipment or surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-34

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-8 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

-18 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

+21 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

Jun 2023

1 inspections

3 basic

Jun

Mar 2024

1 inspections

3 high priority

4 intermediate

4 basic

Apr 2024

1 inspections

Apr

Inspection History

3 records on file

3 Canvass

Apr 24

Canvass InspectionLatestCleanOut of Business

No violations

100/100inspection score

Mar 24

Canvass InspectionFail

3 High4 Med4 Basic

11 total

42/100inspection score

−58 pts

High Priority (3)

−30 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINKS ON SITE MISSING HANDWASHING SIGNAGE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
13FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE, & UNADULTERATED−10
OBSERVED ADULTERATED FOODS AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. OBSERVED A DEAD ROACH INSIDE A METAL CONTAINER WITH LETTUCE, STORED INSIDE A SINGLE PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. ALSO, OBSERVED A LIVE ROACH CRAWLING INSIDE OF A TWO DOOR PREP COOLER, AT THE TOP PART WITH UNCOVERED FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS TOFU, RAW BEEF, COOKED BEEF, SLICED ONIONS, AND SLICED TOMATOES. THE TWO DOOR PREP COOLER WAS LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE COOKING LINE ACROSS FROM THE VENTILATION HOOD. APPROXIMATELY 10 LBS AT $80 WAS DISCARDED AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED FOOD SHALL BE SAFE AND UNADULERATED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED
16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED−10
OBSERVED BLACK, BROWN AND PINK SUBSTANCE BUILD UP ON THE INTERIOR PANEL ABOVE THE ICE INSIDE OF THE ICE MACHINE. ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED MUST REMOVE BUILD UP, CLEAN, AND SANITIZE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED

Intermediate (4)

−20 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER AND A PREP COOLER ON THE LEFT OF THE COOKING LINE ACROSS FROM THE VENTILATION HOOD. FOODS FOUND OUT OF COMPLIANCE WERE: SLICED TOMATOES (46.7F), EGGS (46.0-53.9F), AND CHICKEN (47.6F). MANAGER DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 10LBS AT $60 WORTH OF PRODUCT. MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING FOODS AT 41.0F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED 3 LIVE ROACHES IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA, AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. THE LIVE ROACHES WERE OBSERVED IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE METAL SHELVING UNIT WITH BOXES OF SANDWICH BAGS STORED, ON THE PIPE UNDER THE TWO COMPARTMENT SINK NEAR THE VENTILATION HOOD, INSIDE THE PREP COOLER WITH UNCOVERED FOOD ITEMS, PREP COOLER LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE COOKING LINE ACROSS FROM VENTILATION HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE LIVE ROACH ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. ALL AFFECTED FOOD ITEMS WERE DISCARDED AT THIS TIME, MENTIONED IN VIOLATION #13. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
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
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 (4)

−8 pts

39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY−2
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.
39CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY−2
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.
48WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS−2
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.
60PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED−2
OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 06/06/2023, REPORT # 2576857 #49: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM INTERIOR AREA OF THE FRYER AND THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FRYER TO REMOVE GREASE OBSERVED. #55: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL NEXT TO FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL ABOVE THE SINK IN THE KITCHEN AND CLEAN THE CEILING VENT AND LIGHT SHIELD IN KITCHEN ABOVE PREP COOLER TO REMOVE DUST OBSERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090, CITATION ISSUED

Base deductions−58 pts

Jun 23

Canvass InspectionPass

3 Basic

3 total

94/100inspection score

−6 pts

Basic (3)

−6 pts

49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM INTERIOR AREA OF THE FRYER AND THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FRYER TO REMOVE GREASE OBSERVED.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR UNDER THE FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL NEXT TO FRYER IN THE KITCHEN, CLEAN WALL ABOVE THE SINK IN THE KITCHEN AND CLEAN THE CEILING VENT AND LIGHT SHIELD IN KITCHEN ABOVE PREP COOLER TO REMOVE DUST OBSERVED.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
FOUND EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES; INSTRUCTED TO HAVE EMPLOYEES OBTAIN VALID CERTIFICATES.

Base deductions−6 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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