EAT

Mama Ruth'S Soul Food

5965 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60651 · Humboldt Park · Restaurant · High risk

EAT

82/100

Passed most recently but 1 prior failure on record

Inspections

3 passed

Last Inspected

2025-03-19

Pass Rate

75%

1 failure

Score

82/100

EAT

What You Should Know

✓ 3 consecutive passes, most recently 2025-03-19

⚠ Failed 1 inspection (2023)

⚠ Employee Hygiene issues found across 2 inspections

→ Issues were corrected on re-inspection

Types of Issues Found

🧽

Sanitation minor 3×

📦

Food Storage & Handling minor 2×

🧼

Employee Hygiene critical 2×

📋

Documentation & Training minor 2×

🐀

Pest Activity minor 2×

🌡

Food Temperature minor 1×

⚠

Chemical Safety minor 1×

🚰

Plumbing & Waste minor 1×

Inspection History

2025-03-19 Pass Canvass

5 ▾

minor Food Temperature

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED BROKEN AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER FOR INSIDE PREP AREA TABLE COOLING UNIT LABELED FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY, FOR EMPLOYEES LUNCHES, WATER/DRINKS, ETC. IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.

minor Food Storage & Handling

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED NO LABELS ON FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS CONTAINING SUGAR AND FLOUR ON SHELVING UNIT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

minor Employee Hygiene

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN REAR HANDWASHING SINK AND FOOD PREPARATION TABLE NEAR THE DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

minor Food Storage & Handling

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE OF CASES OF SODA POP STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NEAR THE DISPLAY COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE AT LEAST 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON SHELVING UNITS.

minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE OF MOP IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO STORE PROPERLY.

2024-07-18 Pass Complaint

1 ▾

minor Chemical Safety

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABELING ON CHOPPED WATERMELON AND DESSERTS IN DISPLAY COOLER IN FRONT PREP AREA.

2023-09-06 Pass License Re-Inspection

1 ▾

minor Documentation & Training

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

2-102.13: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.

2023-08-29 Fail License

CRITICAL 7 ▾

critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT A HANDWASHING SINK MUST BE LOCATED TO ALLOW CONVENIENT USE BY EMPLOYEES IN DISHWASHING AREA. MUST INSTALL A HANDWASHING SINK IN SAID AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(C...

minor Sanitation

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

OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON SHELVING UNITS IN BROKEN WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD FROM SHELVING UNITS. ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

minor Sanitation

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

OBSERVED TORN/DAMAGED RUBBER GASKET ON 2 DOOR OF THE COOLER; INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE GASKET.

minor Pest Activity

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEAD NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.

minor Pest Activity

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED, UNNECSSARY EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

minor Plumbing & Waste

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED NO WORKING VENTILATION FAN IN RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

minor Documentation & Training

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.

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Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health · Score calculated from inspection outcomes, violation severity & recency. · How we score
View official record on city data portal →
Eat or Beat scores are independent editorial analysis of public records and do not represent official government ratings.