Pass

Can't Believe It's Not Meat

1368 1/2 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Restaurant ZIP 60615 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Sep 9, 2026

Can't Believe It's Not Meat was last inspected on September 9, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 4 violations.

Latest inspection

September 9, 2026 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

4 general
  • GeneralFood handling

    Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

    Inspector’s note: Observed food storage containers without labels containing the common name of foods. Instructed to provide.

    Official wording (code 37)

    Food properly labeled; original container

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

    Inspector’s note: Observed milk crates being used as shelving throughout the prep and storage areas. Must remove and provide shelving that is 6" off the floor and provides floor accessibility to ensure adequate facility cleaning.

    Official wording (code 47)

    Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed missing and damaged wall tiles above the three-compartment sink. Instructed to repair to create a smooth and easily cleanable surface. Must maintain at all times.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed dirty fryer grease containers. Instructed to clean and maintain.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspection history

9 inspections on record

  1. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    2 critical3 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no person in charge on site with chicago food sanitation certificate. Instructed manager to designate person in charge during all hours of operation. Priority foundaiton

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Staff were eating, drinking, or smoking where food is prepared.

      Inspector’s note: Observed open cup of beverage on shelf above prep cooler. Instructed manager to provide closed lid containers for employee beverages to prevent contamination.

      Official wording (code 6)

      Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use

    • GeneralFood handling

      Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed soiled wiping cloths stored on prep tables. Instructed manager to store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution between uses.

      Official wording (code 41)

      Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

    • GeneralFood handling

      Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed single service articles not inverted. Instructed manager to invert all single service articles to protect from contamination.

      Official wording (code 45)

      Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed missing light shields in prep area. Instructed manager to provide light shields or shatterproof bulbs in prep area.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no chicago food sanitation manager on site or valid certificate posted. A chicago food sanitation manager must be on site and valid certificate posted at all times tcs food prepared and served. Priority foundation 7-38-012 citation issued.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no valid allergen training available. All certified managers must provide allergen training.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed manager to provide and maintain sink stoppers for the 3 comp sink.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed certified manager on duty with expired allergen training certificate. Instructed to renew and maintain as required.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  3. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling

      Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed wiping clothes laying around the prep station. Must properly store when not in use in saniting solution.

      Official wording (code 41)

      Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

  4. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the rubber gasket at the two door dairy cooler in poor repair; instructed to repair or replace to avoid air escaping from unit.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  5. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: The bottom area of the fryer needs cleaning to remove grease, clean fryer. Instructed to clean the blade of the can opener at the prep table in the kitchen.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the floor under cooking equipment to remove grease.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  6. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean surfaces of cooking equipment and prep tables where needed.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the floors behind deep freezer and in corner areas where needed

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralRepeat violation

      A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

      Inspector’s note: Previous core violation not corrected from 3/26/2020 as required. Priority foundation violation 7-42-090. #58 observed no allergen training for some certified managers. Instructed that all certified managers are required to have food allergen training.

      Official wording (code 60)

      Previous core violation corrected

  7. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    3 critical6 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no person in charge during inspection. Instructed manager to designate person in charge during all hours of operation. Priority foundation

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no employee health policy available. Instructed manager to provide in a verifiable manner employee responsibility to report any illness transmissible through food. Priority foundation 7-38-010

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no paper towels at hand washing sinks in washroom and prep area. Instructed manager to provide and maintain. Priority foundation 7-38-030(c)

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood handling

      Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed single service articles no inverted. Instructed manager to invert to protect from contamination.

      Official wording (code 45)

      Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed debris on prep tables, coolers and shelving units in prep and storage areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Observed faucet missing on prep sink. Instructed manager to replace and maintain.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no covered waste receptacle in washroom. Instructed manager to provide.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed grease and debris on floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in prep, storage and washroom areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no operable mechanical ventilation in washroom. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no certified manager on site or valid certificate posted when tcs food prepared and served. A certified manager must be on site and certificate posted at all times tcs food prepared and served. Priority foundation 7-38-012

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no allergen training for certified manager on site. All certified managers are required to have allergen training.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  8. Pass

    License · Pass

    No violations

More in ZIP 60615

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 8 weeks ago. Always confirm with the official record.