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VELA

352 W HUBBARD ST, CHICAGO, IL 60654 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

VELA has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 13, 2024. The most recent inspection, on November 6, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

4 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Food temperature control 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.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 6, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 November 6, 2025. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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 March 24, 2025. For example: FOOD OBTAINED FROM APPROVED SOURCE

  • 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 24, 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 June 13, 2024. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

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. Complaint

    3 infractions

    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF (TCS FOODS) INSIDE OF THE KITCHEN 2 DOOR STAND-UP-COOLER.OBSERVED COOKED CHICKEN AT 55.9F, COOKED BEEF AND CHEESE MIX AT 48.6F, COOKED BEANS AT 57.7F. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 6#'S OF FOOD WORTH $50.00.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN ALL COLD (TCS FOODS) AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED REAR EXIT DOUBLE DOORS LEADING TO THE GARBAGE DUMPSTERS WITH GAPS/OPENINGS APPROX 1/4" INCH AT BOTTOM OF DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO MAKE DOORS TIGHT FITTING ALL ACROSS THE BOTTOM TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Complaint

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 11. FOOD OBTAINED FROM APPROVED SOURCE
      • OBSERVED COMMERICALLY PACKAGED FRUIT WITH NO FOOD LABEL. OBSERVED COMMERICALLY PACKAGED GOOSEBERRIES AND CUT UP PINEAPPLES IN SAUCE WITH NO FOOD LABEL. INSTRUCTED COMMERICALLY PACKAGED FOOD SHALL BE LABELED AS SPECIFIED IN LAW. CORRECTED ON SITE COMMERICALLY PACKAGED FOOD VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED(WEIGHT 4LBS/ VALUED $40) BY FACILITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS THAT ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCCOKED, COOKED TO ORDER OR CONTAIN RAW OR UNDERCCOKED INGREDIENTS. CORRECTED ON SITE FACILITY ADDED ASTERISK TO ALL ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ON MENU THAT ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED, COOKED TO ORDER OR CONTAIN RAW OR UNDER COOKED INGREDIENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN BAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED STOPPER OF WASH COMPARTMENT LEAKING WHEN COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING STOPPER OF WASH COMPARTMENT OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
  4. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. License Re-Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • 6-202.15: OBSERVED OPENINGS AT BASE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • 6-501.19: OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHELL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • 6-304.11: OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION INSTALLED IN WASHROOM AREA(INDIVIDUAL STALLS OR WASHROOM AREA AS A UNIT). INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN WASHROOM AREA.
  7. License

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED TWO MISSING HANDWASHING SINKS IN COMMON AREA OF WASHROOM AREA FOR CONVENIENT USE BY EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WHO USE TWO STALLS WITH NO HANDWASHING SINKS IN INTERIOR OF STALL. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL HANDWASHING SINKS IN COMMON AREA OF WASHROOM FOR CONVENIENT USE BY EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WHO USE TWO STALLS WITH NO HANDWASHING SINKS IN INTERIOR OF STALL. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED OPENINGS AT BASE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHELL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION INSTALLED IN WASHROOM AREA(INDIVIDUAL STALLS OR WASHROOM AREA AS A UNIT). INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN WASHROOM AREA.
  8. License

    0 infractions

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