TAMALES MI CHULA
4638 N KEDZIE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
TAMALES MI CHULA has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 12, 2023. The most recent inspection, on August 27, 2026, found no infractions.
1 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.
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.
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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 16, 2025. For example:
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
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 May 5, 2025. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 16, 2025. 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 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 10, 2024. For example:
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
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 once on December 12, 2023. For example:
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
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.
5 inspections
- Canvass Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Canvass Re-Inspection
2 infractions
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- OBSERVED CORN HUSKS FOR TAMALES IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING (FOOD-GRADE PLASTIC BAGS) STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR OF THE REAR KITCHEN HALLWAY. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE CORN HUSKS AND MAINTAIN ALL FOOD CONTAINERS AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR AT ALL TIMES DURING STORAGE.
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- OBSERVED FLOOR OF THE WALK-IN FREEZER TO BE SOILED WITH DUST AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES INCLUDING FLOOR OF WALK-IN COOLING EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- Canvass
4 infractions
- 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
- OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK AT THE FRONT KITCHEN AREA (NEAR WALK-IN FREEZER) INACCESSIBLE FOR HANDWASHING, OBSTRUCTED BY FOOD CONTAINERS AND FAUCET DIAL IN POOR REPAIR. HOT AND COLD WATER AVAILABLE AT HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HANDWASHING SINK FAUCET DIAL, REMOVE ALL OBSTRUCTIONS, AND MAINTAIN ALL HANDWASHING SINKS FREE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS AND ACCESSIBLE FOR HANDWASHING AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.
- 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
- OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK AT THE FRONT SERVICE AREA AND REAR WAREWASHING AREA MISSING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SIGNAGE TO ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- OBSERVED CORN HUSKS FOR TAMALES IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING (FOOD-GRADE PLASTIC BAGS) STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR OF THE REAR KITCHEN HALLWAY. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE CORN HUSKS AND MAINTAIN ALL FOOD CONTAINERS AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR AT ALL TIMES DURING STORAGE.
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- OBSERVED FLOOR OF THE WALK-IN FREEZER TO BE SOILED WITH DUST AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES INCLUDING FLOOR OF WALK-IN COOLING EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
- 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
- Complaint
3 infractions
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT UTILITY MOP SINK.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
- 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
- OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING AND MAINTAIN.
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- License
2 infractions
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- OBSERVED POTS TOO LARGE FOR ANY 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CLEAN-IN-PLACE PROCEDURE.
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- OBSERVED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENT
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
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