Zalmans
2931 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Restaurant ZIP 60645 Risk 1 (High)
Pass with Conditions · as of Feb 25, 2026
Zalmans was last inspected on February 25, 2026 with a result of “Pass w/ Conditions”. Inspectors found 10 violations, 5 of them critical.
Latest inspection
February 25, 2026 · Canvass
Result: Pass w/ Conditions
5 critical4 general1 paperwork-
CriticalManagement & training
No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.
Inspector’s note: No person in charge present at the time of inspection. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued.
Official wording (code 1)
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
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CriticalManagement & training
Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.
Inspector’s note: Noted no employee health policy on site at the time of inspection following the new code and guidelines. Instructed to have verification of policy for each employee one on site at all times. Priority foundation #7-38-010. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: Noted no soap at hand wash sink of the kitchen prep area. Instructed to have soap and paper towels at all times. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: Noted no paper towels at 2 hand washing sinks. 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 violation.
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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CriticalFood handling
Specialized processes (curing, vacuum-packing, etc.) didn’t follow the approved plan.
Inspector’s note: Noted a vacuum packaging machine on site and assorted food items inside the cooler vacuum packaged with no proof of haccp or variance per health code requirement. Instructed management discontinue the vacuum packaging process until a variance and haccp are approved by the health department.the following food items that were vacuum packaged were also tagged and held for inspection pastrami and turkey approximately 8lbs of products. Priority foundation violation#7-38-005. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 29)
Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp
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GeneralFood handling
No approval obtained for a specialized processing method.
Inspector’s note: Noted a vacuum packaging machine on site and assorted food items inside the cooler vacuum packaged with no proof of haccp or variance per health code requirement. Instructed management discontinue the vacuum packaging process until a variance and haccp are approved by the health department.the food items that was vacuum packaged was also tagged and held for inspection pastrami and turkey about 8lbs priority foundation violation#7-38-005. Citation issued. Consolidated with above violation #29.
Official wording (code 32)
Variance obtained for specialized processing methods
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Noted heavy leakage at the u-joint of the hand washing sink. Instructed to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: 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.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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GeneralRepeat violation
A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.
Inspector’s note: Noted the following previous core violation #58 rule #pa-100-0367 from inspection report #2610976 dated 1/23/2025 not corrected. Noted certified food managers on duty with no allergen training certification. Instructed management that all food service managers are required to have the allergen training certification. Priority foundation violation #7-42-090. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 60)
Previous core violation corrected
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PaperworkManagement & training
No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.
Inspector’s note: Noted no certified food manager on duty with the city of chicago food service certificate on site while tcs foods (rice, chicken soups etc.) were being prepared and served. Instructed management that a certified food manager with the city of chicago original food service certificate must be present at all times tcs foods are prepared and served, and also the person in charge must have a city of chicago certificate by next inspection (upon being inspected) priority foundation violation 7-38-012. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 2)
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspection history
3 inspections on record
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Conditional
Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions
3 critical10 general3 paperwork Show violations
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CriticalManagement & training
No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.
Inspector’s note: Person in charge during the inspection does not have a city of chicago food service sanitation certificate. Priority foundation violation.
Official wording (code 1)
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
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CriticalManagement & training
Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.
Inspector’s note: No written employee health policy on site for all employees. Must provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010 citation issued.
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
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CriticalFood handling
Specialized processes (curing, vacuum-packing, etc.) didn’t follow the approved plan.
Inspector’s note: Noted approximately 10 lbs ready to eat tcs pastrami and turkey prepared and packaged onsite in reduced oxygen packaging inside the walk-in cooler at 38 f with no product label, production date or time. Manager states r.o.p foods are not held longer than 48 hours. Manager discarded and denatured the above meats. Reviewed r.o.p. Labeling and haccp requirements. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 citation issued.
Official wording (code 29)
Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.
Inspector’s note: All bulk food containers, including bulk salt container in front prep, must be labeled with the product common name.
Official wording (code 37)
Food properly labeled; original container
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: Noted clean utensils hanging above the dirty dish area at the three compartment sink. Instructed to remove all clean utensil from the dirty dish side.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
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GeneralHygiene & sanitation
Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: All food preparers must wear effective hair restraints including beard restraints.
Official wording (code 40)
Personal cleanliness
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GeneralFood handling
Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.
Inspector’s note: All prep area wiping cloths must be held in a container with a sanitizing solution.
Official wording (code 41)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
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GeneralFood handling
Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.
Inspector’s note: All stored items throughout the facility, including the basement storage must be elevated from the floors.
Official wording (code 45)
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Interior of the front prep hand washing sink with food debris and dirt. Must clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Leak under the dish area hand washing sink. Instructed to repair.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Floors throughout the front prep area with dirt, debris and grease under shelving and cooks line equipment. Must clean and maintain.----noted missing ceiling tiles in several areas throughout the rear kitchen. Must replace.----noted missing floor drain covers throughout the basement storage. Must provide.----observed pooling water in several areas in the basement. Must remove pooling liquid and repair any leaks/drips from piping/source.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Noted soiled mop heads must be stored inverted at the utility service sink.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Noted employees personal belongings being stored in dry food storage shelving. Must provide a designated non-food contact area for employees personal belongings.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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PaperworkManagement & training
No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.
Inspector’s note: Person in charge during the inspection does not have a city of chicago food service sanitation certificate while tcs foods are being prepared and served. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012 citation issued.
Official wording (code 2)
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
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PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: No proof of food handler training or certificates for all required employees. Must provide.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
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PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: No proof of allergen training or certificate for the sanitation certificate noted on the premises. Must provide.
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
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Pass
License · 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: Instructed to rodent proof bottom of front entrance door.
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: Instructed to clean and maintain floor along the walls and in all corners in basement rear dry storage area and floors inside water closet (by the staircase) in the basement.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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More in ZIP 60645
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 8 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.