Skip to content
Loading map…

BOWLS & BAO

214 W VAN BUREN ST, CHICAGO, IL 60607 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

BOWLS & BAO has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 26, 2016. The most recent inspection, on December 20, 2019, found no infractions.

2 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. All recorded findings relate to upkeep, equipment or paperwork rather than direct food-handling risks.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

    Recorded 12 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on January 22, 2018. For example: FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 22, 2018. For example: FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 22, 2018. For example: LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED

  • Other findingsLower risk

    Findings that do not fit the categories above, such as follow-ups that confirm an earlier violation was corrected, or requirements specific to this type of facility.

    Recorded once on January 18, 2018. For example: ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

6 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REPAIR BROKEN SIDE KNOB ON FAUCET OF 3-COMP SINK. INSTALL SPLASH GUARDS AT EXPOSED HAND SINK AT SERVICE COUNTER AND AT 2-COMP SINK IN REAR PREP. DISCONTINUE USING GROCERY BAGS AND CARDBOARD IN COOLERS & FREEZER THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS FROM INTERIOR OF ALL LOWER COMPARTMENTS OF NON-WORKING PREP COOLERS IN PREP AREA.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • MUST REPLACE STAINED AND MISSING CEILING TILES ABOVE 2-COMP SINK IN REAR PREP AREA.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • MUST REPLACE BURNED OUT LIGHT IN PREP AREA. ALSO, CLEAN UNKNOWN DEBRIS FROM LIGHT SHIELDS IN SAID AREA.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET AT MOP SINK IN PREP AREA.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. INFORMATION PROVIDED.
  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 11. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED EXPOSED HAND SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA NOT WORKING, NO HOT OR COLD RUNNING WATER AVAILABLE DURING INSPECTION. GIVEN TWO DAYS (1/22/2018) TO RESTORE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER TO HAND SINK. EMPLOYEES ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE EXPOSED HAND SINK NEAR-BY TO WASH HANDS UNTIL SINK HAS BEEN REPAIRED. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-030.
    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON-SITE DURING THE INSPECTION WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS; CHICKEN, BEEF, ETC., ARE BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE CERTIFIED MANAGER ON-SITE AT ALL TIMES WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-012
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REPAIR BROKEN SIDE KNOB ON FAUCET OF 3-COMP SINK. INSTALL SPLASH GUARDS AT EXPOSED HAND SINK AT SERVICE COUNTER AND AT 2-COMP SINK IN REAR PREP. DISCONTINUE USING GROCERY BAGS AND CARDBOARD IN COOLERS & FREEZER THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS FROM INTERIOR OF ALL LOWER COMPARTMENTS OF NON-WORKING PREP COOLERS IN PREP AREA.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • MUST REPLACE STAINED AND MISSING CEILING TILES ABOVE 2-COMP SINK IN REAR PREP AREA.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • MUST REPLACE BURNED OUT LIGHT IN PREP AREA. ALSO, CLEAN UNKNOWN DEBRIS FROM LIGHT SHIELDS IN SAID AREA.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REPAIR LEAKY FAUCET AT MOP SINK IN PREP AREA.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. INFORMATION PROVIDED.
  5. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • NO FOOD CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY WITH A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE, POSTED OR AVAILABLE, WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE COOKED AND SERVED, SEE BELOW, AT THIS TIME OF INSPECTION, INSTRUCTED TO ENROLL IN A CLASS WITH PROOF OF ENROLLMENT OR ACTUAL CERTIFICATE MUST BE AVAILABLE, AND A CERTIFIED MANAGER MUST BE ON DUTY AT ALL TIMES FOODS ARE COOKED, SERVED AND PREPARED, SERIOUS ISSUED: 7-38-012
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST PROVIDE SPLASH GUARD AT REAR EXPOSED HAND SINK,
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REPAIR LEAKING FAUCET AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK FRONT PREP AREA,
  6. License

    3 infractions

    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FLOOR THROUGH OUT FRONT PREP AREA AND IN REAR NOT CLEAN, AND WITH WORN, CHIPPED, PAINT SURFACES. INSTD TO CLEAN AND RESURFACE SO AS TO BE A SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • WALL UNDER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NOT CLEAN, EXCESSIVE DEBRIS. CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • PROVIDE SPLASHGUARD AT REAR EXPOSED HANDSINK. REPAIR LEAK AT PIPE UNDER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. REPAIR LEAKING FAUCET AT UTILITY SINK, WRAPPED IN PLASTIC.

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website