Al's Beef Restaurant
Last inspected: Oct 8, 2025
74
Score
The health department has logged six inspections at Al's Beef Restaurant, the earliest from 2021. Inspectors last stopped by on Oct 8, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near four violations per visit.
Looking across the full record, “personal cleanliness” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.
By comparison, the average Chicago facility scores 81, putting Al's Beef Restaurant on the weaker side. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 8, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Summary report displayed and visible to the public
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY FROM (07/29/2024) WAS NOT POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW.TODAY'S INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY WAS ISSUED AND POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW AS REQUIRED.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010 (B),CITATION ISSUED.
61
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: ALL PRE-PACKAGED FOODS SUCH AS (COOKIES) ON DISPLAY FOR CUSTOMER TO PURCHASE MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED WITH THE BUSINESS NAME, ADDRESS, LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND ALLERGEN WARNING IF NEEDED.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: DRY STORAGE RELATED FOOD ITEMS STORED UNDER WASTEWATER PIPES IN BASEMENT.MUST REMOVE FROM UNDER WASTEWATER PIPES OR INSTALL BARRIER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION FROM POTENTIAL LEAKS.
39
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARD WITH DEEP CUTS ON TOP OF THE FOOD PREP LINE.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
47
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON WASHROOM DOOR AND MAINTAIN.
53
74
Jul 29, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOOD BACON HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF 62.4F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $10 WEIGHING 1LBS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
22
Food separated and protected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WEARING SINGLE USE GLOVES PUT RAW HAMBURGER PATTY ON GRILL AND THEN TOUCH HOT DOG BUNS WITHOUT CHANGING GLOVES. INSTRUCTED SINGLE USE GLOVES SHALL BE USED FOR ONLY ONE TASK SUCH AS WORKING WITH READY TO EAT FOOD OR RAW ANIMAL FOOD, USED FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE, AND DISCARDED WHEN DAMAGED OR SOILED, OR WHEN INTERRUPTIONS OCCUR IN THE OPERATION. CORRECTED ON SITE HANBURGER BUNS DISCARDED BY MANAGEMENT AND FOOD HANDLERS GLOVES DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
15
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOS IS PREPARED AND SERVED.
40
70
Dec 4, 2023
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER IN FRONT PREP 2-DOOR COOLER. MUST PROVIDE VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER AND MAINTAIN.
36
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOS IS PREPARED AND SERVED.
40
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
41
86
Nov 27, 2023
Routine
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2-DOOR FRONT PREP COOLER MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 61.7F AND 67.1F. WITH TCS FOODS SUCH AS HAMBURGERS, CHICKEN, HOT DOGS, CHEESE ETC. COOLER TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTON AND MUST NOT USE UNTIL REPAIRED AND MAINTAINS A TEMPERATURE OF 41.0FOR BELOW. CDPH CONTACTED FOR RE-INSPECTION AND TAG REMOVAL. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
33
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS AREA BEING PREPARED AND SERVED SUCH AS ITALIAN BEEF, CHICKEN BURGERS, HAMBURGERS, HOT DOG ETC. INSTRUCTED ABOV THAT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER HAS TO BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS AREA BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS INSIDE 2-DOOR FRONT PREP COOLER. OBSERVED HAMBURGERS AT 58.4F, RAW CHICKEN AT 60.2F, HOT DOGS 59.3F, CHEESE AT 58.8F. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY AND VOLUTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 33LBS OF FOOD WORTH $158.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
22
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2565995 ON 10/26/22. VIOLATION#57 OBSERVED 2 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT CERTIFICATES AND 2 EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN PROOF THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.
60
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: NO CONSUMER ADVISORY POSTED OR AVAILABLE ON THE MENU BOARD. MENU DOES NOT DISCLOSE AND INFORM CONSUMERS THE SPECIFIC MENU ITEMS THAT ARE RAW OR UNDER COOKED AMD A POTENTIAL HAZARD OF CONSUMING SUCH FOOD, SUCH AS BURGERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
25
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS POSTED NEAR HAND WASHING SINKS IN THE UNISEX WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
10
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER IN FRONT PREP 2-DOOR COOLER. MUST PROVIDE VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER AND MAINTAIN.
36
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOS IS PREPARED AND SERVED.
40
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
41
43
Oct 26, 2022
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE CUTTING BOARD ON COOK LINE COVERED IN DEEP GROOVES AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN SMOOTH, CLEANABLE CUTTING SURFACES.
47
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM LOCATED IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
53
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE BURNT OUT LIGHTBULB IN WALK-IN COOLER ON FIRST FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT CERTIFICATES AND 2 EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN PROOF THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
57
82
Jun 3, 2021
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: MUST POST HANDWASHING SIGNS AT ALL HAND SINKS IN PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS, INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
10
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE COVERED TRASH CANS IN BOX UNISEX TOILET ROOMS, AND MAINTAIN.
53
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Al's Beef Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Al's Beef Restaurant on file is from Oct 8, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Al's Beef Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “personal cleanliness” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Al's Beef Restaurant.
Has Al's Beef Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Al's Beef Restaurant have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Al's Beef Restaurant means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Al's Beef Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Al's Beef Restaurant is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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