Chicago's Original Maxwell St
5304 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
Restaurant ZIP 60609 Risk 2 (Medium)
Passed · as of May 18, 2026
Chicago's Original Maxwell St was last inspected on May 18, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 2 violations.
Latest inspection
May 18, 2026 · Canvass
Result: Pass
2 general-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.
Inspector’s note: Missing sink stoppers for 3-comp sink, instructed to obtain.
Official wording (code 48)
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.
Inspector’s note: Faucet doesn't reach to all compartment , instructed to install a faucet neck.
Official wording (code 48)
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspection history
10 inspections on record
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
4 general Show violations
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Observed an appx. "1/2-3/4" in right corner of back exit door.must make door tight fitting to prevent pest entrance.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Observed rusted and dirty shelves in the two-door refrigerator. Surfaces must be smooth and easily cleanable. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Noted cardboard boxes used to line shelves and floors. Instructed to clean and remove all cardboard boxes to prevent hiding places for pests and allow easy cleaning and sanitization.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Noted boxes with food on the floor of walk-in freezer. Must elevate all items to allow cleaning.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Complaint · Pass
2 general Show violations
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Obsserved 1/4" gap on bottom of rear door. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed food debris on floor along walls and corners in prep and storage areas. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Conditional
Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions
2 critical Show violations
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CriticalManagement & training
Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.
Inspector’s note: **premises has no employee health policy. Instructed manager to comply with the new codes or citations will follow. Priority foundation violation #7-38-010.
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
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CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: Premises has no clean up procedures or supplies for responding to vomiting and diarrhea events. Instructed manager to comply with the new codes or citations will follow. Priority foundation violation #7-38-005.
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
3 general Show violations
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector’s note: Noted tomato product being stored in number 10 cans. Instructed management to transfer product into a food grade plastic or metal container.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector’s note: Noted cardboard liners on shelving instructed to remove. Only smooth easily cleanable surfaces may be used.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector’s note: Shelving inside reach in cooler needs cleaning
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
4 general Show violations
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector’s note: Noted raw wood used for dry storage shelving. Must seal to make smooth and easily cleanable.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector’s note: Noted the interior of the reach in cooler and ice cream freezer dirty. Must clean to remove spills. Also must clean pallets where onions are stored and the exterior of onion slicer to remove debris.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector’s note: Noted floors dirty in the following areas: around the grease trap,inside walk in cooler and under pallets. Must clean to remove grease,spills and debris.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector’s note: Noted the fan cover inside the walk in cooler dirty and the vent cover in the prep area dusty. Must clean.
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
1 general Show violations
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector’s note: Floors in need of cleaning to remove debris and sticky. Must clean and maintain at all times
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Pass
Suspected Food Poisoning · Pass
1 general Show violations
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters
Inspector’s note: Employees personal belongings improperly stored. Instd to store in designated area.
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Pass
Short Form Complaint · Pass
1 general Show violations
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector’s note: All food not stored in the original container shall be stored in properly labeled containers. MUST LABEL ALL ONION STORAGE BINS
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Conditional
Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions
1 critical3 general Show violations
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CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)
Hands washed and cleaned, good hygienic practices; no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
Inspector’s note: Observed employee come from the rear of establishment, rinse his hands with water in 3 comp. Sink, then proceed to food prep area to prepare food-employees must wash their hands whenever changing tasks and when returning to food prep area in designated exposed hand sink with soap and hot water-citation issued-critical
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector’s note: Remove all boxes from shelves. Paint rusty legs on prep tables.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector’s note: Detail clean all floors along all wall bases, in corners, underneath & behind all heavy equipment.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector’s note: Clean light shields throughout where needed.
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More in ZIP 60609
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 6 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.