Carm's

1057 W Polk St, Chicago, IL 60607

American

Last inspected: Jan 21, 2026

Score

Low Risk

Across the available record, Carm's has nine inspections on file, the first dated 2018. Carm's was last inspected on Jan 21, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

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

When inspectors have written things up, “contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. The record reflects steady performance over time.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 21, 2026

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: FOOD STORAGE ON FLOOR IN WALK IN FREEZER. INSTD TO ELEVATE AT LEAST 6 INCHES ON PROPER SHELVING (NO MILK CRATES).

In-use utensils: properly stored

Inspector notes: MULTI USE UTENSILS NOT INVERTED DURING STORAGE. INSTD TO INVERT (HANDLE UP) DURING STORAGE

Jul 10, 2025

Routine

No violations found.

100

Jun 11, 2024

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.

Jul 18, 2023

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES WHO HANDLE/PREPARE FOOD MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MUST PROVIDE.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED TO STORE FOOD OFF THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. MUST REMOVE CRATES FROM PREMISES AND PROVIDE SHELVING, FREE OF UNNECESSARY CREVICES AND DESIGNED/CONSTRUCTED TO BE EASILY CLEANABLE.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE SELF-CLOSING DEVICE ON THE EMPLOYEE WASHROOM DOOR BROKEN. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL WASHROOM DOORS MUST BE COMPLETELY ENCLOSED AND PROVIDED WITH TIGHT FITTING AND SELF-CLOSING DOORS.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST COMPLETE APPROVED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE.

Aug 29, 2022

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LID ON TRASH CAN IN UNISEX BATHROOM.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND SINK IN PREP AREA. MUST PROVIDE.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINERAL BUILD UP INSIDE OF SODA MACHINE ICE DISPENSER. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

In-use utensils: properly stored

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE SCOOP STORED INSIDE ICE BIN. INSTRUCTED TO STORE ICE SCOOP IN CLEAN CONTAINER WHEN NOT IN USE.

Dec 1, 2021

Routine

1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEAN UP KIT/PROCEDURE ON SITE (FACILITY HAS FIRST AID KIT). MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR THE CLEAN UP OF VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS, AND CORRESPONDING EQUIPMENT OUTLINE IN PROCEDURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE ACCUMULATION IN LOWER INTERIOR OF FRYER IN FRONTT PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FAUCET HANDLES ON FRONT HAND SINK DIFFICULT TO OPERATE (STRIPPED). OBSERVED LOW WATER PRESSURE. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN HAND SINK AT ALL TIMES.

Jul 17, 2020

Routine

No violations found.

100

Oct 1, 2019

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINI DESSERT CUPS WITHOUT LABELS IN COLD HOLD UNIT IN PREP AND WALK IN COOLER . INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LIST OF INGREDIENTS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER AND MAINTAIN.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED GARBAGE CAN WITHOUT LID IN RESTROOM. MUST PROVIDE.

Nov 30, 2018

License

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: OBSERVED INTERIOR PANEL OF ICE MACHINE A LITTLE DIRTY, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Show all 9 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Carm's last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Carm's on file is from Jan 21, 2026. The public record contains nine inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Carm's?

Across the inspection record, “contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Carm's.

Has Carm's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Carm's have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Carm'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 Carm's inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Carm's is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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