Big Star To-Go
Last inspected: May 20, 2025
86
Score
Inspectors have visited Big Star To-Go 14 times, with records going back to 2014. The latest inspection on file is from May 20, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near two violations each time.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up six times.
Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Big Star To-Go is comfortably above that bar. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
14
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 20, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST SCRAPE CHIPPING PAINT ON WALL IN PREP AREA TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FILTERS AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT.
56
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE HOLE IN WALL NEAR GRILL.
55
86
May 3, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jul 21, 2023
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 CONTAINERS OF BULK INGREDIENTS NOT LABELED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAMES.
37
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF GRIME AND FOOD DEBRIS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HIGH-TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE LOCATED IN THE DISH AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
55
90
Jun 17, 2022
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TORTILLA CHIP SCOOPER BEING STORED ON SIDE OF THE WALL WITH THE FOOD CONTACT SURFACE EXPOSED. INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO PROPERLY STORE THE CHIP SCOOPER BETWEEN USES.
16
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FEMALE FOOD HANDLER PREPPING AND HANDLING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP TO-GO AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MANAGER PROVIDE THE FEMALE FOOD HANDLER WITH A HAT DURING THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION.
40
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND DUST BUILD UP ON THE CEILING ABOVE THE TO-GO BOXES AND THROUGHOUT THE TO-GO FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
86
Jul 30, 2019
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLE IN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
41
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND DUST BUILD UP ON LIGHT SHIELD COVERS ABOVE PREP COOLERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENTS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
56
82
Mar 25, 2019
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TCS FOODS IN WALK IN COOLER CHOPPED VEGGIES, VARIETY SALSAS, PASTOR,CARNE ETC WITH IMPORPER DATE MARKING LABELS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABLES INDICATING DISCARD OR USE BY DATE ON ALL REFRIGERATED FOODS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
23
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRTY BLACK CRATES USED FOR HOLDING PRODUCE IN WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND USE FOOD GRADE ONLY CONTAINERS.
49
86
Jan 30, 2018
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: NOTED THE FLOORS INSIDE THE WALK IN FREEZER ARE DIRTY. MUST DETAIL CLEAN.
34
95
May 12, 2017
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BOWLS USED TO DISPENSE VARIOUS FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO A UTENSIL WITH A HANDLED SCOOP AND TO STORE THE SCOOP EITHER IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER IN BETWEEN USE OR IN THE FOOD WITH THE HANDLE FACING UP OUT OF THE FOOD.
31
95
Sep 14, 2016
Complaint
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service
Inspector notes: FOUND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE: COOKED DICED CARROTS AT TEMP OF 60.8F.PARTIALLY COOKED STRIPS OF BEEF AT TEMP OF 45.7F- 46.4F AND 49 .CARROTS JUICE AT TEMP OF 68F. ALL PRODUCTS MENTIONED WERE STORED INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER .COLD FOOD MUST MAINTAIN TEMP OF 40F AND BELOW. POUNDS 92,VALUE 345 CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
3
Hands washed and cleaned, good hygienic practices; no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
Inspector notes: POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE HANDLING DIRTY DISHES(SCRAPING AND PUT THEM THRU THE HIGH TEMP MACHINE), THEN WITHOUT WASHING HANDS HANDLING /STORING CLEAN DISHES. NO HAND WASHING BETWEEN THE TASK. ONCE DIRTY DISHES ARE HANDLED,MUST WASH HANDS PRIOR TO HANDLE CLEAN DISHES.INFORMATION GIVEN ON HAND WASHING. MANAGER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-010(A)
6
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED VARIOUS KIND OF DISPOSABLE MULTI USE UTENSILS STORED UNDER THE WASTE WATER PIPE AT STORAGE LOCATED AT 1520 N DAMEN. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE ITEMS OR ENCASE SAID PIPES.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: GREASE INSIDE THE DEEP FRYER BY THE FLAT GRILL INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: STORAGE FLOOR AT SOUTH WEST CORNER (1520 N DAMEN) OF DISPOSABLE STORAGE NOT EVEN ALSO DEBRIS AT SAID AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR(SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON ABSORBENT SURFACE), CLEANAND MAINTAIN FLOOR.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: REPAIR WALLS AT DISPOSABLE STORAGE(1520 N DAMEN)NORTH SIDE.
35
74
Apr 29, 2016
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Apr 22, 2016
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Hands washed and cleaned, good hygienic practices; no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
Inspector notes: POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES. OBSERVED EMPLOYEE HANDLING DIRTY DISHES(SCRAPING AND PUT THEM THRU THE HIGH TEMP MACHINE), THEN WITHOUT WASHING HANDS HANDLING /STORING CLEAN DISHES. NO HAND WASHING BETWEEN THE TASK. ONCE DIRTY DISHES ARE HANDLED,MUST WASH HANDS PRIOR TO HANDLE CLEAN DISHES.INFORMATION GIVEN ON HAND WASHING. MANAGER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-010(A)
6
Outside garbage waste grease and storage area; clean, rodent proof, all containers covered
Inspector notes: WASTE OIL GREASE CONTAINER WITH GREASE ON TOP THE LID AND AROUND THE EDGE OF THE UNIT.ALSO OIL SPILLAGE ON CEMENT GROUND.INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAID CONTAINER AND GROUND. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-020
19
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: ALL THREE LIGHT SHIELD ARE BROKEN AT DISH ROOM AREA,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
36
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: DIRTY DUST PANS AND BROOMS STORED INSIDE THE MOP SINK,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
41
82
Dec 29, 2015
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL PREP COOLERS WITHOUT VISIBLE THERMOMETERS. MUST PROVIDE THERMOMETERS INSIDE OF ALL PREP COOLERS.
40
95
Jan 12, 2015
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: AIR VENTS IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL DUST BUILD UP. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
38
Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
Inspector notes: ICE SCOOP MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN SANITIZED CONTAINER. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
43
90
Sep 4, 2014
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND LIGHT SHIELDS IN FRONT PREP AREA.
36
Only authorized personnel in the food-prep area
Inspector notes: PROVIDE BARRIER/CLEAR SEPARATION BETWEEN CUSTOMER WASHROOMS AND KITCHEN ENTRANCE.
44
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Big Star To-Go last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Big Star To-Go on file is from May 20, 2025. The public record contains 14 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Big Star To-Go?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Big Star To-Go.
Has Big Star To-Go's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Big Star To-Go have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Big Star To-Go 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 Big Star To-Go inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Big Star To-Go is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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