SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

AL'S BEEF RESTAURANT.

YOUR CALL. 58/100

548 N WELLS ST · RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO

Last inspected October 8, 2025 · passed with conditions

3 of 6 inspections passed, 1 failed, 2 passed with conditions. 3 critical violations across the record.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
6
3 passed · 2 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
26
includes 3 critical
RECORDS COVER
4 YEARS
since Jun 2021

INSPECTION HISTORY

OCT 8
2025
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
5 violations
DETAILS
MINORChemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

ALL PRE-PACKAGED FOODS SUCH AS (COOKIES) ON DISPLAY FOR CUSTOMER TO PURCHASE MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED WITH THE BUSINESS NAME, ADDRESS, LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND ALLERGEN WARNING IF NEEDED.

MINORFood Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

DRY STORAGE RELATED FOOD ITEMS STORED UNDER WASTEWATER PIPES IN BASEMENT.MUST REMOVE FROM UNDER WASTEWATER PIPES OR INSTALL BARRIER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION FROM POTENTIAL LEAKS.

MINORSanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARD WITH DEEP CUTS ON TOP OF THE FOOD PREP LINE.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON WASHROOM DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

MINOROther
SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

PREVIOUS INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY FROM (07/29/2024) WAS NOT POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW.TODAY'S INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY WAS ISSUED AND POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW AS REQUIRED.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010 (B),CITATION ISSUED.

JUL 29
2024
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
3 violations
DETAILS
SERIOUSEmployee Hygiene
FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WEARING SINGLE USE GLOVES PUT RAW HAMBURGER PATTY ON GRILL AND THEN TOUCH HOT DOG BUNS WITHOUT CHANGING GLOVES. INSTRUCTED SINGLE USE GLOVES SHALL BE USED FOR ONLY ONE TASK SUCH AS WORKING WITH READY TO EAT FOOD OR RAW ANIMAL FOOD, USED FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE, AND DISCARDED WHEN DAMAGED OR SOILED, OR WHEN INTERRUPTIONS OCCUR IN THE OPERATION. CORRECTED ON SITE HANBURGER BUNS DISCARDED BY MANAGEMENT AND FOOD HANDLERS GLOVES DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.

SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED COLD TCS FOOD BACON HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF 62.4F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $10 WEIGHING 1LBS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOS IS PREPARED AND SERVED.

DEC 4
2023
PASSED
3 violations
DETAILS
MINORFacility Condition
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER IN FRONT PREP 2-DOOR COOLER. MUST PROVIDE VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER AND MAINTAIN.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOS IS PREPARED AND SERVED.

MINORSanitation
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

NOV 27
2023
FAILED
9 violations2 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS AREA BEING PREPARED AND SERVED SUCH AS ITALIAN BEEF, CHICKEN BURGERS, HAMBURGERS, HOT DOG ETC. INSTRUCTED ABOV THAT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER HAS TO BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS AREA BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.

CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS POSTED NEAR HAND WASHING SINKS IN THE UNISEX WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS INSIDE 2-DOOR FRONT PREP COOLER. OBSERVED HAMBURGERS AT 58.4F, RAW CHICKEN AT 60.2F, HOT DOGS 59.3F, CHEESE AT 58.8F. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY AND VOLUTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 33LBS OF FOOD WORTH $158.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

SERIOUSOther
CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

NO CONSUMER ADVISORY POSTED OR AVAILABLE ON THE MENU BOARD. MENU DOES NOT DISCLOSE AND INFORM CONSUMERS THE SPECIFIC MENU ITEMS THAT ARE RAW OR UNDER COOKED AMD A POTENTIAL HAZARD OF CONSUMING SUCH FOOD, SUCH AS BURGERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.

MINORFood Temperature
PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

OBSERVED 2-DOOR FRONT PREP COOLER MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 61.7F AND 67.1F. WITH TCS FOODS SUCH AS HAMBURGERS, CHICKEN, HOT DOGS, CHEESE ETC. COOLER TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTON AND MUST NOT USE UNTIL REPAIRED AND MAINTAINS A TEMPERATURE OF 41.0FOR BELOW. CDPH CONTACTED FOR RE-INSPECTION AND TAG REMOVAL. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

MINORFacility Condition
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER IN FRONT PREP 2-DOOR COOLER. MUST PROVIDE VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER AND MAINTAIN.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOS IS PREPARED AND SERVED.

MINORSanitation
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

MINORDocumentation & Training
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2565995 ON 10/26/22. VIOLATION#57 OBSERVED 2 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT CERTIFICATES AND 2 EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN PROOF THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.

OCT 26
2022
PASSED
4 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED ONE CUTTING BOARD ON COOK LINE COVERED IN DEEP GROOVES AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN SMOOTH, CLEANABLE CUTTING SURFACES.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM LOCATED IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

MINORFacility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED ONE BURNT OUT LIGHTBULB IN WALK-IN COOLER ON FIRST FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED 2 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT CERTIFICATES AND 2 EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN PROOF THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

show all 6 inspections →
JUN 3
2021
PASSED
2 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

MUST POST HANDWASHING SIGNS AT ALL HAND SINKS IN PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS, INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

MUST PROVIDE COVERED TRASH CANS IN BOX UNISEX TOILET ROOMS, AND MAINTAIN.

Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health. We'd love to link you straight to this restaurant's record — turns out Chicago considers that a luxury. The full dataset is what's on offer →

NEARBY IN RIVER NORTH