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FOOD FIRST CHICAGO

741 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60612 · Restaurant (Catering)

Inspection summary

FOOD FIRST CHICAGO has been inspected 14 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 7, 2020. The most recent inspection, on April 28, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

9 of 14 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 21, 2021. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 July 21, 2021. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded once on April 28, 2026. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded once on June 21, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 6 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on April 28, 2026. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

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.

14 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 8. HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WASHING HANDS IN BETWEEN PERFORMING MULTIPLE TASKS. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE TOUCHING GLASSES, DRAINED THE THREE COMPARMENT SINK, PUT ON GLOVES AND THEN PREPARE FOODS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROPERLY WASH HANDS AFTER ANY POSSIBLE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION. AFTER NOTIFIED EMPLOYEE WASHED HANDS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010, CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER INSIDE THE HOT HOLDING UNIT ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SLIGHT DEBRIS ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DISHWASHING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED AN APPX. 2" x 3" GAP IN THE LEFT CORNER OF THE FRONT ENTRY DOOR, ON THE FLOOR RIGHT BELOW THE BASEBOARD.MUST SEAL TO PREVENT THE PEST ENTRANCE.
  5. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF RESIDUE ON FLOORS UNDERNEATH THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  7. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Canvass

    0 infractions

  9. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  10. Canvass Re-Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • Violation Codes: 6-301.14 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • Violation Codes: 4-501.11 Inspector Comments: MUST REMOVE RUST FROM EXTERIOR LID OF GREASE TRAP.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • Violation Codes: 4-302.13 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE AT THE PLATE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIROITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • Violation Codes: 4-601.11(C) Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE HEAVILY SOILED DISH RACKS,DEBRI BUILD UP ON ROLLING CART.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • Violation Codes: 5-205.15 Inspector Comments: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE LEAKY FAUCET AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • Violation Codes: 5-501.17 Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE A LID FOR GARBAGE CAN IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.
  11. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST REMOVE RUST FROM EXTERIOR LID OF GREASE TRAP.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED NO TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE AT THE PLATE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIROITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED 3- COMPARTMENT SINK BACKING UP INTO FAR RIGHT AND LEFT COMPARTMENT ABOVE RIM AND FILLING UP SINK BASIN AND VERY SLOW DRAINING WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM SINK.MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025)(CITATION ISSUED)
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE HEAVILY SOILED DISH RACKS,DEBRI BUILD UP ON ROLLING CART.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE LEAKY FAUCET AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • MUST PROVIDE A LID FOR GARBAGE CAN IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM.
  12. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  13. License

    0 infractions

  14. License

    0 infractions

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