RestaurantLicence 2934768

Baba Shawarma INC.

6404 N California Ave, Chicago 60645

Latest verdictPassSep 22, 2026 · 21 days ago

Inspections8since Oct 12, 2023

Fail rate50.0%4 of 8 verdictscitywide 22.4% · above average

City risk ratingHigh riskWhat this kind of business could do if it went wrong — not a grade it earned.

Read the pairs, not the count. A failure is normally followed within days by a re-inspection, and that re-inspection is a second row here. On the timeline below they sit almost on top of each other — one bad day, two marks.

The whole record

Pass50%
Conditional0%
Fail50%

8 inspections from 2023 to 2026 · hover a mark

202420252026

PassSep 22, 2026Complaint Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
FailSep 18, 2026Complaint Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 37
  Food properly labeled; original container
  Noted assorted food items inside refrigeration units not properly labeled. Instructed to properly label all food items with product name including bulk food containers.
2. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Live and dead cockroaches in glueboards. Must remove and replace glueboards.
3. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Still noted the following pest activity: -- 1 live roach on floor in the prep area and 1 one on table under slicer. 1 live roach on employee washroom doorframe. --over 30 flying insects on in the prep area and walls at the dry storage area, hallway, dining room and in north side washroom. --over 25 mice droppings on floor along wall base and underneath equipment, especially at the dry storage area. --still instructed to detail clean and sanitize affected areas and eliminate pest activity. Instructed to consult with pest control company and have premises treated. Priority violation#7-38-020(a).
4. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Noted ice build up inside the upright freezer on shelves. Instructed to defrost, clean and maintain.
5. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Instructed to detail clean the service prep coolers with spills, unnecessary articles and dirt, all cooking equipment and around the service coolers with dirt, food particle, grease. Must also detail clean and maintain the door linings of the service coolers. Interiors of fryer cabinets, interior and exterior surfaces of all equipment with food debris and grease. Must clean and maintain all equipment.
6. 51
  Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
  No back flow prevention device at mop sink faucet. Must install.
7. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  Noted outside grease container and surrounding not maintained with grease on the ground around the grease container and on top of container. Instructed to detail clean and maintain grease container and its surroundings. Priority foundation #7-38-020(b).
8. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Noted heavy clutter throughout establishment on shelves, floors unused equipment and at the kitchen prep area and rear storage room. Instructed to detail clean, organize and remove all unnecessary or unused articles and equipment to prevent hiding places for pest. Also noted propane tanks stored on premise at the rear dry storage. Must remove.
9. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Still noted the following:- -floors throughout premise especially along wall base and underneath equipment with dirt, grease and food debris, including live and dead roaches and mice droppings. -walls with food dirt and food spills. Accumu;ated dust on wall & ceiling vent covers. -foam material used for sealing holes. Must remove all foam and smoothly seal openings/holes. -instructed to detail clean and sanitize especially areas with pest activity, clean and maintain. Must upgrade housekeeping.
10. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Noted heavy dirt and grease accumulation inside, on pipes/conduits and on edges of the exhaust hood and filters above cooking equipment. Instructed to detail clean and maintain hood, filters and pipes/conduits.
11. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Mechanical exhaust fan in north side toilet room not functional. Must repair or replace exhaust fan.
FailSep 16, 2026ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 1
  Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
  No person in charge present at the time of inspection. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued.
2. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  Noted no certified food manager on duty while tcs foods are prepared and served (chicken,beef etc). Instructed to have a certified food manager on site at all times. Priority foundation violation#7-38-012. Citation issued.
3. 8
  Hands clean & properly washed
  Noted employee while wearing gloves and prepping went to the storage and picked up box of disposable bowls, then went back to the kitchen and continued prepping all without changing gloves and washing hands. Discussed with management that gloves must be changed and hands washed when moving from one area to another, opening the refrigeration unit, changing tasks, etc. Priority violation #7-38-010. Citation issued.
4. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Noted a food cart and bread racks in front of the hand washing sink at the prep area blocking the hand wash sink. Instructed to have hand washing sink accessible at times. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.
5. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Noted no soap at the hand washing sinks of the prep area/dish washing area. Instructed to have soap and paper towels at all hand washing sinks. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.
6. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Noted no paper towels at the hand washing sink of the prep area. Instructed to have soap and paper towels at all hand washing sinks. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued. Consolidated with the above violations.
7. 37
  Food properly labeled; original container
  Noted assorted food items inside refrigeration units not properly labeled. Instructed to properly label all food items with product name including bulk food containers.
8. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Noted the following:- -- 5 live roaches on floor around the prep area and unused equipment. 2 on prep cooler used for dry storage and 1 on floor under prep area hand wash sink. --over 50 flying insects on walls, ceiling, bread racks at the dry storage area, dining room and in cabinet under north side washroom hand sink. --over 75 mice droppings on floor along wall base and underneath equipment, especially at the dry storage area. --instructed to detail clean and sanitize affected areas and eliminate pest activity. Instructed to consult with pest control company and have premises treated. Priority violation#7-38-020(a). Citation issued.
9. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Live and dead cockroaches in glueboards. Must remove and replace glueboards.
10. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Rear door propped open to the outside with a screen door, with large sections of the screen torn or missing. Must repair screen.
11. 41
  Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
  Noted dirty wiping cloths on prep tables at prep areas not properly stored. Instructed to properly store all washcloths in a sanitizing solution especially when not in use.
12. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Noted ice build up inside the upright freezer on shelves. Instructed to defrost, clean and maintain.
13. +9 more
PassJul 1, 2025Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
FailJun 27, 2025CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  No running hot water inside employees washroom, water temperature at 71.8 f. Instructed manager must provide running hot water at a minimum 100.0 f inside employees washroom by date of reinspection. Priority violation 7-38-030(c).
2. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Found the following tcs foods held at improper temperatures between 48.0 f and 55.1 f inside 2-door reach in prep cooler and inside 2-door reach in cooler by utility sink- cheese, raw chicken, italian beef and open mayonnaise. Instructed manager tcs foods must be held at 41.0 f and below if held cold. Priority violation 7-38-005. All out of temperature tcs foods voluntarily discarded. Foods discard weight-10 lbs valued at $150.00.
3. 33
  Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
  Found 2-door prep reach in cooler not maintained, ambient air temperature at 48.0 f and 2-door reach in cooler by utility sink not maintained, ambient air temperature at 55.1, found cheese, chicken, etc. Held inside said coolers. Instructed manager must repair both coolers, ambient air temperature must be 41.0f or below. Priority violation 7-38-005.
4. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Found accmulated food debris inside prep area reach in coolers, all prep area shelves and food build up on exterior of all sinks. Instructed manager must clean and maintain all equipment.
5. 53
  Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
  Employees washroom door not self closing. Instructed manager must provide and install a self closing device at employees washroom door.
6. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed accumulated food build up on prep area and storage room floor. Instructed manager must detail clean floor throughout prep and storage rooms.
PassNov 13, 2024Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 53
  Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
  No covered receptacle in toilet room. Must provide.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed accumulated food on floors behind equipment and along walls in corners. Instructed to detail clean floors throughout premises.
3. 58
  Allergen training as required
  Observed no allergen training on premises. Must provide allergen training for all food sanitation managers.
FailNov 6, 2024CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 3
  Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
  Observed no signed employee health policy on premises. Instructed to provide and maintain.
2. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no handwashing signs at any handsinks. Must provide.
3. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Observed tcs foods...brisket at 48.0f and cheesesteak beef at 55f on prep table top. Manager voluntarily discarded approximately 40lbs of brisket and 5lbs of cheesteak beef valued at approximately $225. Instructed to store tcs foods at 41f or below. Priority violation. #7-38-005. Citation issued.
4. 43
  In-use utensils: properly stored
  Observed in-use knife stored improperly. Must provide knife rack.
5. 48
  Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
  Observed no test strips for testing sanitizing solution. Must provide. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-005. Citation issued.
6. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Observed accumulated food debris on the interior of coolers throughout premises. Instructed to detail clean and maitnain.
7. 53
  Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
  No covered receptacle in toilet room. Must provide.
8. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed accumulated food on floors behind equipment and along walls in corners. Instructed to detail clean floors throughout premises.
9. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  Observed food employees preparing tcs foods with no food handler training. Must obtain.
10. 58
  Allergen training as required
  Observed no allergen training on premises. Must provide allergen training for all food sanitation managers.
PassOct 12, 2023LicenseRisk 1 (High)
1. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed raw wood on the base of the counter for front service area. Paint or seal raw wood.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed wall in washroom not smooth and easily cleanable. Restore the surface to a smooth and easily cleanable condition. Observed walls of dry storage room next to patrom bathroom not smooth and easily cleanable. Restore all walls to a smooth and easily cleanable condition and maintain.
3. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed floor in front service area and floor in front of 3 compartment sink in disreapir. Restore to a smooth and eaily cleanable condition and maintain.

Fails sit above the line, passes below. Every inspection the city has published for this licence.

On the street

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What it gets cited for

559×
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
385×
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
105×
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
474×
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
494×
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
564×
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
534×
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
372×
Food properly labeled; original container

Counted across every inspection on record here. A code that keeps coming back is the more telling signal.

Source

Published by the Chicago Department of Public Health as Food Inspections, updated weekly. This page shows every row the city holds under licence 2934768 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.