Food First Chicago

Chicago Health Dept

741 S WESTERN AVE · NEAR WEST SIDE, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Apr 2026), 1 critical violation noted.

8 inspections on record since 2020 · Last inspected Apr 2026 · 1 critical violation in the last 12 months.

The numbers

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

APR 2026

Inspection history

APR 28

2026

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 3 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WASHING HANDS IN BETWEEN PERFORMING MULTIPLE TASKS. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE TOUCHING GLASSES, DRAINED THE THREE COMPARMENT SINK, PUT ON GLOVES AND THEN PREPARE FOODS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROPERLY WASH HANDS AFTER ANY POSSIBLE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION. AFTER NOTIFIED EMPLOYEE WASHED HANDS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010, CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Food Temperature

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER INSIDE THE HOT HOLDING UNIT ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED SLIGHT DEBRIS ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DISHWASHING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MAY 21

2025

PASS · 0 violations

JUN 21

2024

PASS 1 violation 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED AN APPX. 2" x 3" GAP IN THE LEFT CORNER OF THE FRONT ENTRY DOOR, ON THE FLOOR RIGHT BELOW THE BASEBOARD.MUST SEAL TO PREVENT THE PEST ENTRANCE.

FEB 21

2023

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED BUILD UP OF RESIDUE ON FLOORS UNDERNEATH THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MAR 29

2022

PASS · 0 violations

show all 8 inspections →

JUL 21

2021

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 6 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Violation Codes: 6-301.14 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

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

Violation Codes: 4-501.11 Inspector Comments: MUST REMOVE RUST FROM EXTERIOR LID OF GREASE TRAP.

Serious Food Temperature

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

Violation Codes: 4-302.13 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE AT THE PLATE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIROITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Violation Codes: 4-601.11(C) Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE HEAVILY SOILED DISH RACKS,DEBRI BUILD UP ON ROLLING CART.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Violation Codes: 5-205.15 Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE LEAKY FAUCET AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Violation Codes: 5-501.17 Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE A LID FOR GARBAGE CAN IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.

JUL 14

2021

FAIL 7 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST REMOVE RUST FROM EXTERIOR LID OF GREASE TRAP.

Serious Food Temperature

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED NO TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE AT THE PLATE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIROITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)

Minor Other

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED 3- COMPARTMENT SINK BACKING UP INTO FAR RIGHT AND LEFT COMPARTMENT ABOVE RIM AND FILLING UP SINK BASIN AND VERY SLOW DRAINING WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM SINK.MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025)(CITATION ISSUED)

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE HEAVILY SOILED DISH RACKS,DEBRI BUILD UP ON ROLLING CART.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE LEAKY FAUCET AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

MUST PROVIDE A LID FOR GARBAGE CAN IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.

DEC 28

2020

PASS · 0 violations

Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-09-06. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →

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