Tala House
5022 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Restaurant ZIP 60640 Risk 1 (High)
Passed · as of May 21, 2026
Tala House was last inspected on May 21, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 4 violations.
Latest inspection
May 21, 2026 · Canvass
Result: Pass
4 general-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: Noted individual to-go disposable containers with no handle used for scooping s food inside the dry food storage container. Instructed to provide tongs, serving spoons, or ladle for scooping food.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
-
GeneralFood handling
In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.
Inspector’s note: Noted serving plates on shelves at the kitchen prep area and dinning area not properly stored. Instructed to invert all serving plates to prevent dust accumulation.
Official wording (code 43)
In-use utensils: properly stored
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Noted loose and missing knots on lid of service prep cooler at the kitchen prep area. Instructed to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: Noted employee wash rooms on premise at the basement food prep area with garbage receptacles and no lids. Instructed to provide trash cans with lids at all women wash rooms and unisex wash rooms
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspection history
4 inspections on record
-
No Entry
Non-Inspection · No Entry
No violations
-
Pass
Canvass · Pass
3 general1 paperwork Show violations
-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to properly label food storage containers identified with common name (sugar, flour, salt etc)
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: Instructed not to use milk crates as a means of elevation inside the walk-in cooler and in the storage area in the basement. Must use proper raised shelves 6" off the floor easy access on 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: Instructed to seal hole on wall behind the dish machine in the basement.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: Most food handlers with no proof of food handler training certificate. Instructed management, all food handlers that do not have city of chicago foodservice sanitation certificate shall complete an approved food handler training program.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
-
-
Conditional
License · Pass w/ Conditions
3 critical3 general1 paperwork Show violations
-
CriticalManagement & training
Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.
Inspector’s note: Found no employee health policy/training on site. Instructed to provide a signed employee health policy for each employee. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
-
CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: Found no procedure/plan for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events. Instructed to provide and maintain required procedure/plan and appropriate supplies or kit. (necessary items at a minimum: gloves, face masks, disposable mops and appropriate sanitizer/spray that kills norovirus) priority foundation violation 7-38-005
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
-
CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to provide handwashing signage at handsink at all handsink (bar, prep areas, service area, dishwashing area and washrooms)
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
-
GeneralFood temperature
Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to provide thermometer visible inside all coolers including basement walk-in cooler.
Official wording (code 36)
Thermometers provided & accurate
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Backflow preventer device not located behind ice machine and at mopsink faucet in the basement. Instructed to install so that it can be located to be serviced and maintained.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Found wall behind dishmachine in poor repair with cracked tiles and opening. Instructed to repair and maintain
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: Found no approved allergen training certificate. Instructed any person with city of chicago food service sanitation certificate to comply with allergen training certification
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
-
More in ZIP 60640
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 6 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.