RestaurantLicence 2827504

Big Star

1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago 60622

Latest verdictConditionalAug 4, 2026 · 2 months ago

Inspections6since Apr 30, 2024

Fail rate20.0%1 of 5 verdictscitywide 22.4% · below 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

Pass40%
Conditional40%
Fail20%

6 inspections from 2024 to 2026 · hover a mark

20252026

ConditionalAug 4, 2026CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no handwashing signage in women's washroom.instructed to provide and maintain.
2. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed stained cutting board on top of the main prep line coolers.instructed to resurface or replace the cutting boards and maintain.
3. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Instructed to detail clean interior bottom compartments of the deep fryers to remove the grease buildup and the top exterior of dishmachine to remove debris.
4. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Instructed to replace broken ceiling tile located next to the rear kitchen exhaust hood and detail clean ceiling fan blades at bar and customer dining areas to remove accumulation of dusts and maintain.
5. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Instructed to detail clean the kitchen exhaust hood systems to remove accumulation of grease build-up and maintain.
6. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Instructed to detail clean ceiling ventilation covers throughout the premises to remove accumulation of hanging dusts and maintain.
7. 61
  Summary report displayed and visible to the public
  Previous inspection report summary from (08/14/2025) was not displayed for the public to view.today's inspection report summary was issued and displayed and visible to the public at all times.priority foundation violation 7-42-010 (b),citation issued.
ConditionalAug 14, 2025Suspected Food PoisoningRisk 1 (High)
1. 8
  Hands clean & properly washed
  Observed poor hygienic practices by male food handlers while handling dirty to clean dishes, also a male food handler handling a soiled towel and a cooked tortilla shell in his hand while he wiped the counter. Must wash hands after every possible contamination. (priority 7-38-010)(citation issued)(cos)
2. 9
  No bare hand contact with rte food or a pre-approved alternative procedure properly allowed
  Observed bare hand contact with ready-to-eat tortilla being removed from grill by female food handler. Product was discarded appx. 2.8lbs. Tortilla. Instructed manager to use utensils or disposable gloves to handle tcs foods.appx.2.8lbs.$3.(priority 7-38-010)(citation issued)(cos)
3. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed hand washing sink not accessible in front of the main prep area.observed a prep table stored in front of said sink. Table was removed during inspection. Must keep hand washing sink accessible at all times.(priority foundation 7-38-030(c)(citation issued)(cos)
4. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no soap at main prep area hand washing sink soap was provided during inspection.must provide and maintain.(priority foundation 7-38-030(c)(cos)(consolidated violation )
5. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no hand drying devices at main prep area. Hand washing sink, paper towel were provided during inspection. Must provide and maintain.(priority foundation 7-38-030(c)(cos)(consolidated violation )
6. 16
  Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
  Observed a high temperature dish machine in use. Final rinse is at 147.0°f. Must be at 180.0°f or more.must repair and maintain. (priority 7-38-025)(citation issued)(cos) repair person on site is changing from a high temperature to a chemical dish machine at this time of inspection.
7. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Observed improper temperatures of tcs foods, such as .5lbs. Slaw-47.3f.2.5lbs. Cooked onions-46.0f-48.6f.12oz. Salsa pico-52.1f.12oz. Cooked chirozo-47.1f.3lbs. Pico de gallo-46.9f.2lbs. Sliced avacado-48.1f. The product was discarded by the manager. Must have cold holding foods at 41.0°f or below.appx.9lbs. $55.(priority 7-38-005)(cos)(citation issued)
8. 33
  Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
  Observed improper temperature of taco prep cooler at 46.8°f with tcs foods stored inside.must have cold holding unit at 41.0°f or below.air temperature is now 38.9f(priority 7-38-005)(cos)(citation issued)
9. 37
  Food properly labeled; original container
  3-302.12 : must label food storage containers when food is not in original package.
10. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  6-202.15: must repair or replace gap along bottom of front door and frame of outdoor patio and liquor storage room door.
11. 41
  Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
  Must store wiping cloths in a sanitizing solution when not in use on prep tables.
12. 44
  Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
  Must invert multi-use utensils on dish storage shelves.
13. +4 more
PassMay 29, 2025Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 37
  Food properly labeled; original container
  -302.12 : must label food storage containers when food is not in original package.
2. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  6-202.15 : must repair or replace gap along bottom of front door and frame of outdoor patio and liquor storage room door .
3. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  3-305.11 : must elevate food and paper goods from floor in outside walk in cooler dry food & paper storage area to prevent cross contamination.
4. 43
  In-use utensils: properly stored
  : 3-304.12 : observed cups and bowls stored inside of bulk food containers must remove and store properly.
5. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  4-101.19 : must eliminate cardboard and foil from surfaces to be smooth and easily cleanable.
6. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  4-501.11 : must repair or replace missing door handle on salad prep cooler.
7. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  4-601.11(c) : must clean fryer cabinets & wheel bases ,grill table,garbage cans in bar area.
8. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  6-201.17 : must clean dust build up from ceiling joist above bar & ceiling vent in dish washing area.
9. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  6-501.13 inspector comments: must clean debris build up from floor & drains under,around,along wall bases in dry food & paper storage area,bar.
FailMay 20, 2025CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 37
  Food properly labeled; original container
  Must label food storage containers when food is not in original package.
2. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Must repair or replace gap along bottom of front door and frame of outdoor patio and liquor storage room door .
3. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed evidence of appx. 20 or more live small flies in dish washing area,bar area on walls, speaker,ceilings and dining area outside of men's toilet room recommended to have a pest control operator to service premises on or after 5/20/25.(priority foundation 7-38-020(a)(citation issued)
4. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  Must elevate food and paper goods from floor in outside walk in cooler dry food & paper storage area to prevent cross contamination.
5. 43
  In-use utensils: properly stored
  Observed cups and bowls stored inside of bulk food containers must remove and store properly.
6. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Must eliminate cardboard and foil from surfaces to be smooth and easily cleanable.
7. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Must repair or replace missing door handle on salad prep cooler,missing door lock on last stall in women's toilet room.
8. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Must clean fryer cabinets & wheel bases ,grill table,garbage cans in bar area.
9. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Must clean dust build up from ceiling joist above bar & ceiling vent in dish washing area,
10. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Must remove barbwire from around floor drains in dish washing,prep & bar areas for cleaning to occur.
11. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Must clean debris build up from floor under,around,along wall bases in dry food & paper storage area,bar.
PassMay 3, 2024LicenseRisk 1 (High)
No verdictApr 30, 2024LicenseRisk 1 (High)

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

On the street

Apple Maps street-level imagery. Click to look around the block.

What it gets cited for

557×
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
476×
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
104×
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
494×
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
384×
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
373×
Food properly labeled; original container
562×
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
392×
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

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 2827504 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.