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T & L CONVENIENCE STORE AND RESTAURANT

5038 W MADISON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60644 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

T & L CONVENIENCE STORE AND RESTAURANT has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since January 10, 2025. The most recent inspection, on March 26, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

None of the 4 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: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food temperature control and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 March 19, 2026. 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 March 19, 2026. For example: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

  • 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 March 19, 2026. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 once on March 19, 2026. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 once on March 19, 2026. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES 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.

4 inspections

  1. Complaint Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 4-101.17 OBSERVED RAW WOOD SURFACES ON SHELVING UNITS BEHIND FRONT COUNTER AND BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL ALL RAW WOOD SURFACES TO MAKE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.114 OBSERVED EXCESSIVE CLUTTER BEHIND FRONT COUNTER, SECOND FLOOR AND BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
  2. Complaint

    10 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINKS NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR HANDWASHING. OBSERVED WATER DRAINING ON FLOOR AT HANDWASHING SINK WHEN IN USE IN FRONT PREP AREA AND HANDWASHING SINKS FILLED WITH CONTAINERS AND CUPS IN FRONT AND REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR FRONT HANDWASHING SINK AND REMOVE ALL ITEMS FROM HANDWASHING SINKS FOR PROPER HANDWASHING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGN AT HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGN AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY EMPLOYEES.
    • 35. APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED CHICKEN IMPROPERLY THAWING IN REAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY THAW CHICKEN UNDER REFRIGERATION, COLD RUNNING WATER OR PART OF COOKING PROCESS.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED LIVE CAT LAYING ON EQUIPMENT IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE CAT FROM PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-40-060 CITATION ISSUED
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE UTENSILS NOT INVERTED IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL SINGLE SERVICE UTENSILS TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED RAW WOOD SURFACES ON SHELVING UNITS BEHIND FRONT COUNTER AND BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL ALL RAW WOOD SURFACES TO MAKE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON BASES OF COOLERS AND FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL EQUIPMENT.
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE CARDBOARD AND DEBRIS ON GROUND OUTSIDE REAR DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN OUTSIDE GARBAGE AREA.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE CLUTTER BEHIND FRONT COUNTER, SECOND FLOOR AND BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
  3. Complaint

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN UPSTAIRS AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  4. License

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDSINKS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED BOTH TOILET ROOM DOORS NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BROKEN AND CRUMBLED WALL ON RIGHT SIDE OF FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE INSTRUCTED TO ENCLOSE TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SMALL GAP BETWEEN THE WALL AND FLOOR THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE WALL BASE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE ITEMS (UNUSED/USED EQUIPMENT, TOTES AND BOXES OF MISCELLANEUS, ITEMS STORED IN STORAGE ROOM ON 1ST FLOOR NEAR FACILITY ENTRANCE, BASEMENT ON FLOORS THROUGHOUT, UPSTAIRS OFFICE SPACE AND REAR STORAGE BY EXIT DOOR OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESARY ITEMS, PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS FOR STORAGE AND ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF FLOOR AND MAINTAIN PREMISE.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED MISSING BULBS IN REAR PREP/STORAGE AREA THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

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