Baba's
Last inspected: Nov 14, 2025
90
Score
Baba's has been inspected seven times since 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated Nov 14, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near five violations each time.
Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged eight times.
Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 14, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: WALLS IN VARIOUS AREAS IN NEED OF SCRAPING AND PAINTING TO REMOVE ALL PEELING PAINT ON WALLS INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOORS THROUGHOUT IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL DEBRIS AND BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
55
90
Jul 25, 2025
Complaint
12 minor violations.
View 12 violations
Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
Inspector notes: OBSERVED OPEN CUP OF BEVERAGE IN REAR PREP TABLE AND EMPLOYEE DRINKING FROM OPEN CUP IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CLOSED LID CONTAINERS FOR EMPLOYEE BEVERAGES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
6
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS NOT LABELED IN REAR PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO LABEL ALL BULK CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME OF FOOD.
37
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLEAN MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL CLEAN MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
44
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE CONTAINERS NOT INVERTED AND STORED ON FLOOR IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT AND ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED CARDBOARD INSIDE BOTTOM OF REACH-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL SOILED CARDBOARD AND MAINTAIN COOLER.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED GASKETS AND CIGARETTE BURN MARKS ON REACH-IN AND CHEST FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR GASKETS AND MAINTAIN.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE BUILDUP ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF FRYERS, PREP TABLES, COOLERS, FREEZERS, HOLDING UNITS, SHELVING UNITS, BULK CONTAINERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TOILET LEAKING FROM BASE INSIDE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WASHROOM.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON LIGHT SHIELDS AND CEILING TILES, GREASE BUILDUP ON FLOORS UNDER FRYERS, COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLUTTER IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
Compliance with clean indoor air ordinance
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE ELEPHANT SHAPED ASHTRAY FILLED WITH CIGARETTE BUTT AND ASHES ON SHELF NEAR COCOA PEBBLES CEREAL BOX ABOVE PREP TABLE IN REAR PREP AREA. OBSERVED ANOTHER ELEPHANT SHAPED ASHTRAY FILLED WITH ASHES ON SHELF NEAR TOILET TISSUE INSIDE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL ASHTRAYS FROM PREMISES. ASHTRAYS SHALL BE REMOVED FROM ANY AREA SMOKING IS PROHIBITED BY THE OWNER, OPERATOR, MANAGER OR OTHER PERSON HAVING CONTROL OF THE AREA. SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN PULBIC PLACES AND PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT. CLEAN INDOOR AIR ORDINANCE (REMOVAL OF ASHTRAYS) 7-32-020(C) CITATION ISSUED
62
55
Feb 20, 2025
Complaint
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF THE FRYERS AND IN BOTTOM AREAS OF SOME FRYERS; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN. OBSERVED GREASE ON THE ELECTRICAL PANELS BEHIND THE FRYERS, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
49
95
Dec 18, 2024
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF THE FRYERS AND IN BOTTOM AREAS OF SOME FRYERS; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN. OBSERVED GREASE ON THE ELECTRICAL PANELS BEHIND THE FRYERS, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
49
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STANDING WASTE WATER IN MOP BUCKET; INSTRUCTED TO DISPOSE OF WATER ONCE CLEANING IS DONE. CORRECTED ON SITE.
52
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: FOUND NO SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON WASHROOM DOOR; INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON DOOR.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS AND WALLS AROUND UNDER AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT WHERE NEEDED.
55
82
Mar 8, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: SOME CLEANING NEEDED TO THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT; CLEAN WHERE NEEDED.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN AREA OF THE FLOOR IN NEED OF CLEANING BEHIND THE COOKING EQUIPMENT; CLEAN FLOOR. OBSERVED SOME CEILING VENTS AND LIGHT SHIELDS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE DUST; CLEAN SAME.
55
90
Dec 13, 2023
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: ALL DOOR HANDLES AND SERVICE CARTS IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL FOOD BUILD AND OR GREASE. CLEAN ALL STORAGE CUBBIES UP FRONT BY REGISTER. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: LARGE CAN OPENER IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL BUILD AT BLADE AND AT BASE OF OPENER. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: CUTTING BOARD WORN WITH CUTS AND DISCOLORATION. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN OR REPLACE.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF MICROWAVE IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL FOOD SPILLS CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: THE INTERIOR OF REACH IN COOLER ON LINE IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL FOOD SPILLS AND BUILD UP. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: LEAK AT HANDLE ON HANDWASH SINK BY 3 OMPARTMENT SINK AREA. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOORS THROUGHOUT IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL FOOD SPILLS AND BUILD UP. CLEAN BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT AND REACH IN CHEST FREEZERS. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN.
55
70
Dec 8, 2022
License
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
3
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOME GREASE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRYER; CLEAN AREA. OBSERVED THE CUTTING BOARD AT THE PREP COOLER IN POOR CONDITION; INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
49
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO LID FOR THE THE WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE WASHROOM; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A WASTE RECEPTACLE WITH A LID.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RUST SPOTS ON FLOOR OF WALK-IN COOLER; INSTRUCTED TO PAINT AREAS IF RUST SPOTS CANNOT BE REMOVED.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD UP ON THE VENTS IN THE HOODED SYSTEM ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT; CLEAN VENTS AND MAINTAIN.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Baba's last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Baba's on file is from Nov 14, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Baba's?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited eight times, more than any other issue at Baba's.
Has Baba's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Baba's have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Baba's means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Baba's inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Baba's is inspected around two times per year on average.
Nearby Restaurants