Donerka Alma-Ata

5343 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Other

Last inspected: Oct 3, 2025

Score

High Risk

Donerka Alma-Ata has been inspected three times since 2024. Inspectors last stopped by on Oct 3, 2025. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.

Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around 11 violations lately compared to roughly three violations before.

“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.

The city-wide average sits at 81, which Donerka Alma-Ata's 47 doesn't quite reach. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Oct 3, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.

View 11 violations

Proper hot holding temperatures

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS FOODS HELD HOT AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES: COOKED CHICKEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ROTISSERIE UNIT NOT HEATED OR MEANT FOR HOT HOLDING AT 121.8F. COOKED RICE IN A HOT HOLDING UNIT AT 125.6F. ALL FOOD DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING THE FIRST 65 MINUTES WHILE TCS FOODS WERE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. SUCH AS COOKED CHICKEN BEING HELD AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES. MANAGER WAS TELEPHONED UPON MY ARRIVAL. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF THE REAR TALL REACH-IN COOLER WITH EXCESSIVE POOLING CHICKEN LIQUID. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. NOTED PEELING PLASTIC ON THE METAL SURFACE OF BOTH ROTISSERIES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: UNUSED COOLER MUST BE OPERATIONAL OR REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES AND ALL UNUSED ITEMS IN THE REAR HALLWAY STORAGE REMOVED TO PREVENT PEST HARBORING.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: MISSING FLOOR TILE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE REAR HALLWAY STORAGE. MUST REPLACE. MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD AS MATTING FOR FLOORS IN THE SAME HALLWAY STORAGE.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: ALL PREP AREA WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE HELD IN A CONTAINER WITH A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USE.

Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

Inspector notes: ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.

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

Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS AS FOOD CONTAINERS IN THE FREEZER. MUST BE FOOD GRADE PLASTIC BAGS OR WASHABLE CONTAINERS.

Dec 26, 2024

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: 4-301.16--OBSERVED NO SINK FOR FOOD PREPARATION AT FRONT PREP AREA WHERE COFFEE,TEA BEVERAGES ARE PREPARED.MUST INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

Dec 24, 2024

License

2 major violations. 3 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: NO LICENSED PEST CONTROL LOGBOOK AVAILABLE ON THE PREMISES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A LICENSED PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK WITH ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION(CONTRACT/SERVICE AGREEMENT, SERVICE REPORT, CHEMICALS USED ETC.) PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020 (C).

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SINK FOR FOOD PREPARATION AT FRONT PREP AREA WHERE COFFEE,TEA BEVERAGES ARE PREPARED.MUST INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT DRAIN PIPE UNDERNEATH THE HAND SINK AT FRONT PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND MAINTAIN.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Donerka Alma-Ata last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Donerka Alma-Ata on file is from Oct 3, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Donerka Alma-Ata?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Donerka Alma-Ata.

Has Donerka Alma-Ata's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Donerka Alma-Ata have averaged around 11 violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at Donerka Alma-Ata means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.

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