Joe's Grill

Chicago Health Dept

1159 W 51ST ST · BACK OF THE YARDS, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Apr 2026), 2 critical violations noted.

6 inspections on record since 2023 · Last inspected Apr 2026 · 4 critical violations in the last 12 months.

The numbers

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

APR 2026

Inspection history

APR 3

2026

PASS 5 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

No hands washing sign in women's restroom. Instructed to post.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Fly trap mounted on food shelves, instructed to keep away from food storage.

Minor Sanitation

IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

Spoon for rice stored in standing water, instructed to keep according to Food code, ie.

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Employees clothing placed on top of food containers/ shelves. Live Pottery plants placed in prep kitchen, instructed to remove form food production area.

Minor Documentation & Training

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

No allergen training certificate for food service manager, instructed to obtain.

JAN 21

2026

PASS 5 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

No hands washing sign in women's restroom. Instructed to post.

Minor Chemical Safety

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Bulk food container not labeled ( flour ) instructed to label.

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Fly trap mounted on food shelves, instructed to keep away from food storage.

Minor Sanitation

IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

Spoon for rice stored in standing water, instructed to keep according to Food code, ie.

Minor Documentation & Training

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

No allergen training certificate for food service manager, instructed to obtain.

MAY 19

2025

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED SOILED GREEN WIPING CLOTHES STORED ON PREP TABLES THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO STORE INSIDE SANITIZER BUCKET WITH SOLUTION AT LEAST 50 PPM WHILE NOT IN USE.

MAY 12

2025

FAIL 5 violations 3 CRITICAL

Critical Sanitation

HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED

OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WASH HANDS INSIDE 2 COMPARTMENT SINK USED FOR FOOD PREP AFTER PLACING SOILED DISHES INTO WASH BASIN OF 3 COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED WASH HANDS PROPERLY AT HANDASHING SINKS ONLY AS REQUIRED BYU CODE. MUST MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Food Storage & Handling

NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED

OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEE PEEL 2 HARD BOILED EGGS WITH BARE HANDS, PLACE EGGS INSIDE WHITE BOWL AND PLACED ON PREP TABLE TO BE SERVED TO CUSTOMER. INSTRUCTED PIC THAT FOOD BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY TO EAT FOODS ARE PROHIBITED WHILE OPERATING. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN. PIC VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED EGGS AT THIS TIME. PRIORITY VIOLATION. #7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND SINK AVAILABLE IN (IN USE) REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE HANDSINK FOR EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-030 (C). NO CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Food Temperature

APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

OBSERVED FROZEN BEEF AND CHICKEN STORED INSIDE LARGE ZIPLOCK BAGS ON PREP TABLE IN REAR PREP AREA THAWING IMPROPERLY. INSTRUCTED TO THAW UNDER RUNNING WATER OR UNDER REFRIGERATION. MUST MAINTAIN

Minor Sanitation

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED SOILED GREEN WIPING CLOTHES STORED ON PREP TABLES THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO STORE INSIDE SANITIZER BUCKET WITH SOLUTION AT LEAST 50 PPM WHILE NOT IN USE.

MAR 7

2024

PASS 13 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Chemical Safety

PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

OBSERVED PERSONAL FOOD ITEMS STORED INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PLACE FOOD IN DESIGNATED AREA AND LABEL AWAY FROM FOOD THAT IS CONSUMED BY CUSTOMERS. EMPLOYEES SHALL EAT AND DRINK ONLY IN DESIGNATED AREAS WHERE THE CONTAMINATION OF EXPOSED FOOD CANNOT RESULT.

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT THE HAND SINK LOCATED BEHIND THE WAITRESS COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED NO LABEL FOR THE BULK STORAGE CONTAINER (SUGAR) LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT COUNTER WHERE THE COFFEE IS STORED. THE INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE OF ALL BULK AND WORKING FOOD INGREDIENT CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH THE CONTENTS' NAMES.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED A BAG OF CARROTS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.

Minor Employee Hygiene

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER COOKING AND PREPPING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT.

Minor Sanitation

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

OBSERVED FROZEN CHICKEN STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE WALK-IN FREEZER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD-GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.

Minor Sanitation

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

OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE TO HAVE FOOD SPLASH AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Sanitation

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

OBSERVED RAW WOOD STAIRS LEADING TO THE BASEMENT AREA. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OR PAINT TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS AND ICE BUILDUP ON THE FLOOR/WALLS/CEILING OF THE WALK-IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE EXCESS ICE, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Pest Activity

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED MOP IN A POSITION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO DRY PROPERLY AND PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. MUST STORE MOP AFTER USE IN A MOUNTED POSITION THAT ALLOWS FOR AIR-DRYING WITHOUT SOILING AND PEST HARBORAGING.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED WATER-STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM, PUBLIC WOMEN TOILET ROOM, AND HALLWAY OF THE KITCHEN AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE STAINED CEILING TILES AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Other

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Documentation & Training

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED ONE OUT OF TWO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD CERTIFIED MANAGERS WITH NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE.

show all 6 inspections →

JUN 5

2023

PASS 3 violations

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED MISSING BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE ON THE NEWLY INSTALLED ICE MACHINE IN THE FRONT COUNTER AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL TO ENSURE DEVICE CAN BE LOCATED, SERVICED, AND MAINTAINED.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED BEVERAGE SERVICE LINE WITHOUT A PREP SINK. INFORMED MANAGER THAT A MINIMUM OF ONE SINK USED FOR FOOD PREPARATION IS REQUIRED IN ANY FOOD PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES FOR FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS INSIDE OF UNISEX/ STAFF TOILET ROOM AND WOMENS RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

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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