Skip to content
Loading map…

SHORTYS MEXICAN GRILL, INC.

11529 S MICHIGAN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60628 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

SHORTYS MEXICAN GRILL, INC. has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 19, 2022. The most recent inspection, on April 16, 2026, recorded 6 infractions.

None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 12 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food source, labelling and allergens and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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 7 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on April 16, 2026. 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 12, 2025. For example: PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

  • 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 on December 12, 2025. For example: NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED

  • 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 11 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on April 16, 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 16, 2026. For example: ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

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

    6 infractions

    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON THE COUNTERS AND PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN BUCKET/CONTAINER OF SANITIZING SOLUTION (SANITIZER MUST BE AT THE REQUIRED PPM) WHEN NOT IN USE. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THE REAR GRAY/WHITE REACH IN FREEZER WITH A THICK BUILD UP OF ICE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE, CLEAN UNIT AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MOP STORED INSIDE OF THE MOP BUCKET. INSTRUCTED TO STORE HANGING UP FOR PROPER AIR DRYING. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FLOORS IN THE CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED THE FILTERS ON THE VENTILATION WITH GREASE, DIRT AND DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FILTERS.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED THE CFM'S ON SITE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE HAS EXPIRED. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT ALL TIMES.
  2. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 9. NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED
      • 3-301.11(B) OBSERVED BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY TO EAT FOODS. OBSERVED THE MANAGER PREPARING A TORTA AND TAKING THE TORTA OFF THE GRILL TOUCHING THE TOP OF THE TORTA BREAD WITH HIS BARE HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO NEVER TOUCH READY TO EAT FOODS WITH BARE HAND CONTACT AND ALWAYS USE TONGS, SPOONS OR FOOD GRADE DISPOSABLE GLOVES TO HANDLE ALL READY TO EAT FOODS. MANAGER WASHED HIS HANDS AND PROVIDED FOOD GRADE DISPOSABLE GLOVES DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-010(B).
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • 4-602.11 OBSERVED A SLIGHT BROWNISH SUBSTANCE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE BY THE ICE MAKER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 23. PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION
      • 3-501.17 OBSERVED READY TO EAT FOODS SUCH AS COOKED MEATS AND DICED TOMATOES STORED IN A REFRIGERATION UNIT WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING A DISCARD DATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL THE DISCARD DATE FOR ALL READY TO EAT FOODS THAT ARE HELD IN A REFRIGERATION UNIT FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • 3-302.12 OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF FOOD IN THE 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR AND 2 DOOR PREP COOLER WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL FOODS THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
    • 46. GLOVES USED PROPERLY
      • 3-304.15 OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT USING FOOD GRADE DISPOSABLE GLOVES TO HANDLE READY TO EAT FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO REVIEW WHEN TO USE FOOD GRADE DISPOSABLE GLOVES (TO PREVENT BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY TO EAT FOODS) AND WHEN TO CHANGE GLOVES WITH ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.12 OBSERVED DIRT DEBRIS UNDER DRY STORAGE SHELVES AND BEHIND REACH IN FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
  3. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 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.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED DAMAGED GASKET ON PREP COOLER DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR DOOR GASKET AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED TOILET IN NEED OF CLEANING IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS NOT LABELED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO LABEL ALL BULK CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME OF FOOD.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED ICE SCOOP HANDLE LAYING ON ICE INSIDE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE ICE SCOOP HANDLE UP TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
  5. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • FOUND WIPING CLOTHS NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION (MUST BE AT THE REQUIRED PPM) WHEN NOT IN USE. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • FOUND THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS WITH GREASE, FOOD AND DIRT BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FRYERS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND FLOORS UNDER/AROUND EQUIPMENT AND IN THE CORNERS WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND A BED IN A SIDE ROOM IN THE REAR AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER SLEEPING QUARTERS MUST BE SEPARATED FROM AREAS USED FOR RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OPERATIONS BY A SELF-CLOSING DOOR OR COMPLETE PARTITIONING.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND WATER STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE REAR AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND MOPS NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE MOPS HANGING UP TO PROPERLY DRY. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • FOUND THE MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE TOILET ROOM NOT WORKING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO FIX AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION.
  6. License

    2 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE SIGNED DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEE RESPONSBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website