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CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT MEAT

1368 1/2 E 53RD ST, CHICAGO, IL 60615 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT MEAT has been inspected 9 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since March 26, 2019. The most recent inspection, on September 9, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.

1 of 9 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 4 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food source, labelling and allergens.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on May 30, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 30, 2025. For example: PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded once on September 9, 2026. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 9 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on September 9, 2026. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

  • 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 8 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 30, 2025. For example: PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

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.

9 inspections

  1. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING AND DAMAGED WALL TILES ABOVE THE THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DIRTY FRYER GREASE CONTAINERS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE ON SITE WITH CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDAITON
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE OR VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED. A CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 6. PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
      • OBSERVED OPEN CUP OF BEVERAGE ON SHELF ABOVE PREP COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CLOSED LID CONTAINERS FOR EMPLOYEE BEVERAGES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTERPROOF BULBS IN PREP AREA.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SINK STOPPERS FOR THE 3 COMP SINK.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY WITH EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO RENEW AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED.
  4. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHES LAYING AROUND THE PREP STATION. MUST PROPERLY STORE WHEN NOT IN USE IN SANITING SOLUTION.
  5. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED THE RUBBER GASKET AT THE TWO DOOR DAIRY COOLER IN POOR REPAIR; INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE TO AVOID AIR ESCAPING FROM UNIT.
  6. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE FRYER NEEDS CLEANING TO REMOVE GREASE, CLEAN FRYER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BLADE OF THE CAN OPENER AT THE PREP TABLE IN THE KITCHEN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE GREASE.
  7. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT AND PREP TABLES WHERE NEEDED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOORS BEHIND DEEP FREEZER AND IN CORNER AREAS WHERE NEEDED
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM 3/26/2020 AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. #58 OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR SOME CERTIFIED MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  8. Canvass

    11 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE OR VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED WHEN TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. A CERTIFIED MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012
    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE IN A VERIFIABLE MANNER EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT HAND WASHING SINKS IN WASHROOM AND PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(C)
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NO INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DEBRIS ON PREP TABLES, COOLERS AND SHELVING UNITS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED FAUCET MISSING ON PREP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED GREASE AND DEBRIS ON FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, STORAGE AND WASHROOM AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO OPERABLE MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  9. License

    0 infractions

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