JAN 26
2026
PASSED
0 violationsSANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO
✕
ELI TEA BAR.
EAT. 85/100
5507 N CLARK ST · UPTOWN, CHICAGO
Last inspected January 26, 2026 · passed
4 of 6 inspections passed, with 9 critical violations on file.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTIONS
6
4 passed · 1 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
28
includes 9 critical
RECORDS COVER
3 YEARS
since Apr 2022
INSPECTION HISTORY
JAN 242025PASSED3 violationsDETAILS
JAN 24
2025
PASSED
3 violationsDETAILS
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REORGANIZE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES AND UNUSED EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
SOME FOOD HANDLERS WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CURRENT CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. NEW EMPLOYEES HAVE 30 DAYS FROM HIRE TO OBTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER’S TRAINING CERTIFICATE.
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
(1) CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.
JAN 82024PASSED11 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
JAN 8
2024
PASSED
11 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE WITH MINIMAL CALCIUM BUILD-UP.
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL PREP AND REACH-IN COOLERS.
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS (BROWN SUGAR, WHITE SUGAR ETC) IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME.
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF BOTTOM OF FRONT DOOR, REAR EXIT DOOR AND IN BASEMENT DOOR TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
OBSERVED ICE SCOOP STORED INSIDE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT THE MOPSINK FAUCET. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SO THAT IT CAN BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
OBSERVED SMALL LEAK AT THE BOTTOM OF GREASE BOX UNDERNEATH 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
(2) TOILET ROOM DOORS MUST BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA AND IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS MUST BE STORED 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING.
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
FOOD HANDLERS WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
FOUND NO APPROVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.
JAN 52023PASS W/ CONDITIONS2 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
JAN 5
2023
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
2 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS CERTIFICATE POSTED. THE PREMISES SERVES TCS FOODS: MILK, COOKED RICE, ETC. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THEY MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN POST CERTIFICATES VISIBLE TO CUSTOMERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED THREE HOLES IN THE CEILING IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE SMOOTHLY TO SEAL HOLES AND MAINTAIN THEM IN GOOD REPAIR.
APR 282022PASSED3 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
APR 28
2022
PASSED
3 violations1 CRITICALDETAILS
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
6-202.15 OBSERVED 1/2 INCH GAP AT FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR SWEEP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR.
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
5-204.12 BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE MOP SINK.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
6-501.114 OBSERVED CLUTTERED THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF THE FLOOR OR REMOVE THEM.
show all 6 inspections →
APR 212022FAILED9 violations5 CRITICALDETAILS
APR 21
2022
FAILED
9 violations5 CRITICALDETAILS
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER ON-PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS-MILK IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED ABOVE TO OPERATE WITH A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS MILK IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. ALSO, THE PERSON IN CHARGE MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE BY THE NEXT INSPECTION (UPON BEING INSPECTED) PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
THERE IS NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISE AT THIS TIME. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010.
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
THERE IS NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE OR CLEAN-UP ITEMS ON-PREMISE. MUST PROVIDE NECESSARY ITEMS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
FOUND TCS FOOD MILK HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE AT 48 F INSIDE MILK THREE-DOOR COOLER AND SAMOSA HELD AT 61.5 F ON TOP OF THREE-DOOR COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TCS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 41.0 F OR BELOW IF HELD COLD. ALL SAID OUT OF TEMPERATURE TCS FOODS ARE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AT THIS TIME. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005
PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
OBSERVED PREP THREE-DOOR COOLER NOT MAINTAINED, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT 45.0 F, FOUND MILK INSIDE SAID COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THREE-DOOR MILK COOLER MUST BE REPAIRED. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE MUST BE 41.0 F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
THERE ARE NO PEST LOGBOOK ON-PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE A PEST CONTROL LOGBOOK FROM A LICENSED ILLINOIS PEST CONTROL OPERATOR ON-PREMISE BY THE DAY OF RE-INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(C)
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
OBSERVED 1/2 INCH GAP AT FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR SWEEP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR.
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE MOP SINK.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED BASEMENT FLOOR CLUTTERED THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF THE FLOOR OR REMOVE THEM.
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 →