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CARM'S

1057 W POLK ST, CHICAGO, IL 60607 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CARM'S has been inspected 10 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since November 30, 2018. The most recent inspection, on June 1, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

2 of 10 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 18, 2023. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 29, 2022. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 21, 2026. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 October 1, 2019. 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on June 1, 2026. For example: GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES 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.

10 inspections

  1. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • MISSING TRASH RECEPTACLES NEAR HANDWASH SINKS IN PREP AREAS. A RECEPTACLE SHALL BE PROVIDED IN EACH AREA WHERE REFUSE IS GENERATED OR COMMONLY DISCARDED. INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN
  2. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • FOOD STORAGE ON FLOOR IN WALK IN FREEZER. INSTD TO ELEVATE AT LEAST 6 INCHES ON PROPER SHELVING (NO MILK CRATES).
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • MULTI USE UTENSILS NOT INVERTED DURING STORAGE. INSTD TO INVERT (HANDLE UP) DURING STORAGE
  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. 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.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.
  5. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES WHO HANDLE/PREPARE FOOD MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED TO STORE FOOD OFF THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. MUST REMOVE CRATES FROM PREMISES AND PROVIDE SHELVING, FREE OF UNNECESSARY CREVICES AND DESIGNED/CONSTRUCTED TO BE EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED THE SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON THE EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR BROKEN. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL WASHROOM DOORS MUST BE COMPLETELY ENCLOSED AND PROVIDED WITH TIGHT FITTING AND SELF-CLOSING DOORS.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED MULTIPLE FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST COMPLETE APPROVED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE.
  6. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND SINK IN PREP AREA. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED MINERAL BUILD UP INSIDE OF SODA MACHINE ICE DISPENSER. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED ICE SCOOP STORED INSIDE ICE BIN. INSTRUCTED TO STORE ICE SCOOP IN CLEAN CONTAINER WHEN NOT IN USE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LID ON TRASH CAN IN UNISEX BATHROOM.
  7. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEAN UP KIT/PROCEDURE ON SITE (FACILITY HAS FIRST AID KIT). MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR THE CLEAN UP OF VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS, AND CORRESPONDING EQUIPMENT OUTLINE IN PROCEDURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE ACCUMULATION IN LOWER INTERIOR OF FRYER IN FRONTT PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED FAUCET HANDLES ON FRONT HAND SINK DIFFICULT TO OPERATE (STRIPPED). OBSERVED LOW WATER PRESSURE. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN HAND SINK AT ALL TIMES.
  8. Canvass

    0 infractions

  9. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED MINI DESSERT CUPS WITHOUT LABELS IN COLD HOLD UNIT IN PREP AND WALK IN COOLER . INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LIST OF INGREDIENTS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED GARBAGE CAN WITHOUT LID IN RESTROOM. MUST PROVIDE.
  10. License

    1 infraction

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED INTERIOR PANEL OF ICE MACHINE A LITTLE DIRTY, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

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