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J.T.'S GENUINE SANDWICH

3970 N ELSTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

J.T.'S GENUINE SANDWICH has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 13, 2019. The most recent inspection, on May 8, 2025, recorded 8 infractions.

2 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing 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.

  • 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 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2025. 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 2 times on May 8, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2023. 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2025. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

  • 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 3 times on May 8, 2025. For example: UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

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.

8 inspections

  1. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVEDEMPLOYEE WITH BEARD AND WITHOUT A BEARD RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE BEARD RESTRAINTS FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS WITH BEARDS.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN PREP AREAS IN SANITIZER BUCKET BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • MUST NOT STORE CLEAN CUTTING BOARD ON THE BACK-SPLASH OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • SOME CUTTING BOARDS IN THE KITCHEN WITH DARK STAINS AND DEEP CUTS,MUST REFINISH OR REPLACE SAID CUTTING BOARDS
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • 4-601.11(B) MUST NOT USE ALUMINUM FOIL AS LINER FOR COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE GAS STOVE WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • WATER SPRAYER AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS LEAKING ,ALSO WATER PIE UNDER THE HANDWASHING SINK BY THE MOP/THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.REPAIR ISSUE
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES IS REQUIRED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS
  2. Canvass

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED ONLY ONE CERTIFED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING. ALL CERTIFED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  4. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (BREAD CRUMBS, FLOUR ETC).
  5. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SEAL HOLE AROUND PIPES INSIDE BOILER ROOM.
  6. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SINK AT FRONT REGISTER AREA WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE SERVING COFFEE. MUST INSTALL A HAND WASHING SINK NEAR COFFEE MACHINE AREA THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER COULD MOVE COFFEE MACHINE IN PREP AREA IN REAR WHERE HAND SINK IS LOCATED OR REMOVE COFFEE MACHINE FROM PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND SINK IN PREP AREA. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK FOOD CONTAINERS NOT LABELED (BREAD CRUMBS, SUGAR). MUST LABEL WITH COMMON NAME TO IDENTIFY FOOD.
  7. License

    3 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR MOP SINK.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • NO RECEPTACLE WITH LID/COVER INSIDE WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE A COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE IN WASHROOMS.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES.
  8. License

    0 infractions

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