Alfa Food Market & Tobacco

4855 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60609

Grocery / Market

Last inspected: Apr 25, 2025

Score

Low Risk

There aren't many inspections to draw from yet: just two so far. On Apr 25, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around one violation compared to roughly eight violations earlier on.

“All food employees have food handler training” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Alfa Food Market & Tobacco is comfortably above that bar. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 25, 2025

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED NO FOOD EMPLOYEES WITH FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITH FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.

Mar 24, 2025

License

1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 8 violations

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PHYSICAL BARRIER OR OTHER PROTECTION BETWEEN WAREWASHING AREA/3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND CUSTOMER AREA IN THE REAR AREA THAT PROVIDES ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A PHYSICAL BARRIER TO ACT AS A BARRIER FROM CUSTOMERS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL SANITIZER CONCENTRATION TEST KIT PROVIDED ON-SITE AT LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SANITIZER CONCENTRATION TEST KIT FOR THE TYPE OF SANITIZER UTILIZED IN WAREWASHING AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY PROVIDED ON-SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY WITH COPIES SIGNED BY EACH EMPLOYEE AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010 NO CITATION ISSUED. 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR VIOLATION #3.

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER PROVIDED ON-SITE. PERSON-IN-CHARGE-PROVIDED COMMERCIAL REFUSE REMOVAL AGREEMENT WITH FLOOD BROTHERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AVAILABLE FOR USE ON-SITE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(B) NO CITATION ISSUED.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD EMPLOYEES WITH FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITH FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NOT ADEQUATELY SEALED TO ADJOINING WALL TO PREVENT SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TO ADJOINING WALL WITH WATERPROOF SEALANT TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE AND MAINTAIN.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WOODEN BLOCKS USED AS SUPPORTS FOR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LEGS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE WOODEN BLOCKS OR REPLACE WITH A MATERIAL THAT IS SMOOTH, NON-ABSORBENT, AND EASILY-CLEANABLE AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK WITH NO CATCH BASIN OR GREASE TRAP EQUIPPED. INSTRUCTED TO EQUIP 3-COMPARTMENT SINK WITH A CATCH BASIN OR AN APPROVED GREASE TRAP AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Alfa Food Market & Tobacco last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Alfa Food Market & Tobacco on file is from Apr 25, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Alfa Food Market & Tobacco?

Across the inspection record, “all food employees have food handler training” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Alfa Food Market & Tobacco.

Has Alfa Food Market & Tobacco's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Alfa Food Market & Tobacco have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Alfa Food Market & Tobacco means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

Nearby Restaurants

Positanos Restaurant & Pizza

Los Caminos De Michoacan

4933 S Ashland Ave

Score: 70 — Medium Risk

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