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TAMALE LADY INC

1932 W CERMAK RD, CHICAGO, IL 60608 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TAMALE LADY INC has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 21, 2025. The most recent inspection, on January 8, 2026, recorded 7 infractions.

1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 7 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 8, 2026. For example: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

  • 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 on March 6, 2025. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

  • 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 once on January 8, 2026. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 January 8, 2026. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 January 8, 2026. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

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. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • HANDWASHING SIGNS IN NEED OF REPLACING. WET/DRY CURLED UP INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN
    • 35. APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED A BAG OF FROZEN CHILIES (NON TCS) THAWING ON COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO THAW ALL TCS FOOD ITEMS UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER OR UNDER REFRIGERATION.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • ALL BULF ITEMS SHOULD BE STORED IN A CLEAN CONTAINER WITH IDENTIFIYING MARKERS. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • REAR EXIT DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS AT BASEMENT PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL STANDING WATER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN DRY. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • HOOD VENT AT 1ST FLOOR PREP IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE GREASE AND HOOD AT BASEMENT PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALLERGEN CERTIFICATE NEEDED FOR MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN
  2. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE WAS PROVIDED FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS MUST MEET REQUIREMENT.
  3. License

    4 infractions

    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • 3-603.11 OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENU FOR ITEMS THAT CAN BE ORDERED UNDERCOOKED OR RAW, SUCH AS EGG ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE FOR ALL ITEMS ORDERED UNDERCOOKED OR RAW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • 4-301.11 OBSERVED THE WALK-IN COOLER AND A PREP COOLER NOT TURNED ON AND MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. OBSERVED A HOT HOLDING UNIT NOT TURNED ON AND MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 135F OR ABOVE FOR ALL HOT HOLDING UNITS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • 3-306.11 OBSERVED MULTIPLE POTS STORED OUTSIDE IN THE BACKYARD AREA OF THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE STORED INSIDE OF THE FACILITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE WAS PROVIDED FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS MUST MEET REQUIREMENT.
  4. License

    0 infractions

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