Byrd's Hot Chicken

319 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661

American

Last inspected: Jan 22, 2026

Score

Medium Risk

Byrd's Hot Chicken has been inspected three times since 2024. Byrd's Hot Chicken was last inspected on Jan 22, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around three violations to closer to eight violations.

When inspectors have written things up, “person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

By comparison, the average Chicago facility scores 81, putting Byrd's Hot Chicken on the weaker side. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 22, 2026

Routine

4 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 8 violations

Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PERSON-IN-CHARGE PRESENT WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATE AT START TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST ONE PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ON-SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD EMPLOYEE PRESENT ON-SITE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER TRAINING OR ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE AT START TIME OF INSPECTION WHILE TCS FOOD ITEMS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED (CHICKEN, PASTA). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL FOOD EMPLOYEE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE ON-SITE AT ALL TIMES. PERSON-IN-CHARGE EJAZ HUSSAIN KHAN ARRIVED ON-SITE WITH VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE AFTER START TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS NOT PROVIDED AT THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREA HANDWASHING SINKS AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PRODIVE DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AVAILABLE FOR USE IN HANDWASHING AT ALL TIMES. PERSON-IN-CHARGE PROVIDED DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS TO ALL HANDWASHING SINKS ON-SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING VIOLATION(S) FROM PREVIOUS CANVASS INSPECTION (INSPECTION NO. 2611890) ON 2/6/2025 NOT CORRECTED AT TIME OF CURRENT CANVASS INSPECTION: #57 2-102.13 MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR COOKS. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT ALL CORE VIOLATIONS BY THEIR ASSIGNED DUE DATE, AND OBTAIN FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOORS, WALLS, AND GAS LINES BENEATH AND BEHIND DEEP FRYERS IN THE MAIN COOK LINE AREA TO BE HEAVILY-SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE, AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN PHYSICAL FACILITIES AND PIPING FIXTURES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE, AND OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: SEE VIOLATION #60.

Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

Inspector notes: OBSERVED TCS FOOD ITEM (COOKED PASTA) IN THE WALK-IN COOLER STORED COVERED BY FOOD CONTAINER LID WHILE COOLING. INSTRUCTED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS LOOSELY-COVERED OR UNCOVERED (IF PROTECTED FROM OVERHEAD CONTAMINATION) WHILE COOLING TO FACILITATE HEAT TRANSFER AND MAINTAIN.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF PREPARATION TABLE BENEATH GRIDDLE IN THE MAIN COOK LINE AREA TO BE HEAVILY-SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF COOKING AND PREPARATION EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE, AND OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.

Feb 6, 2025

Routine

1 major violation. 3 minor violations.

View 4 violations

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: No certified food service manager on site while handling and serving TCS foods ( chicken...) instructed to obtain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: Food handler not wearing a hair restraints, instructed to wear.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: Missing Food handler training certificate for cooks. Instructed to obtain.

Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

Jul 30, 2024

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: No mop hangers at mop sink area, instructed to install.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: Inadequate lighting in walk-in cooler, instructed to provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Byrd's Hot Chicken last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Byrd's Hot Chicken on file is from Jan 22, 2026. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Byrd's Hot Chicken?

Across the inspection record, “person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Byrd's Hot Chicken.

Has Byrd's Hot Chicken's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Byrd's Hot Chicken have averaged around eight violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Byrd's Hot Chicken means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

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