Eli Tea Bar
Last inspected: Jan 26, 2026
100
Score
The health department has logged six inspections at Eli Tea Bar, the earliest from 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 26, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near five violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded five times.
Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Eli Tea Bar is comfortably above that bar. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 26, 2026
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jan 24, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REORGANIZE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES AND UNUSED EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: SOME FOOD HANDLERS WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CURRENT CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. NEW EMPLOYEES HAVE 30 DAYS FROM HIRE TO OBTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER?S TRAINING CERTIFICATE.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: (1) CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.
58
86
Jan 8, 2024
Routine
11 minor violations.
View 11 violations
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE SCOOP STORED INSIDE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
43
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTER DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT THE MOPSINK FAUCET. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SO THAT IT CAN BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
51
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SMALL LEAK AT THE BOTTOM OF GREASE BOX UNDERNEATH 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.
52
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: (2) TOILET ROOM DOORS MUST BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA AND IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS MUST BE STORED 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLERS WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FOUND NO APPROVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.
58
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE WITH MINIMAL CALCIUM BUILD-UP.
16
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL PREP AND REACH-IN COOLERS.
36
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS (BROWN SUGAR, WHITE SUGAR ETC) IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME.
37
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF BOTTOM OF FRONT DOOR, REAR EXIT DOOR AND IN BASEMENT DOOR TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
38
58
Jan 5, 2023
Complaint
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS CERTIFICATE POSTED. THE PREMISES SERVES TCS FOODS: MILK, COOKED RICE, ETC. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THEY MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN POST CERTIFICATES VISIBLE TO CUSTOMERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THREE HOLES IN THE CEILING IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE SMOOTHLY TO SEAL HOLES AND MAINTAIN THEM IN GOOD REPAIR.
55
86
Apr 28, 2022
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: 6-202.15 OBSERVED 1/2 INCH GAP AT FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR SWEEP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR.
38
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE MOP SINK.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.114 OBSERVED CLUTTERED THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF THE FLOOR OR REMOVE THEM.
55
86
Apr 21, 2022
Routine
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: FOUND TCS FOOD MILK HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE AT 48 F INSIDE MILK THREE-DOOR COOLER AND SAMOSA HELD AT 61.5 F ON TOP OF THREE-DOOR COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TCS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 41.0 F OR BELOW IF HELD COLD. ALL SAID OUT OF TEMPERATURE TCS FOODS ARE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AT THIS TIME. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005
22
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREP THREE-DOOR COOLER NOT MAINTAINED, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT 45.0 F, FOUND MILK INSIDE SAID COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THREE-DOOR MILK COOLER MUST BE REPAIRED. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE MUST BE 41.0 F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
33
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER ON-PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS-MILK IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED ABOVE TO OPERATE WITH A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS MILK IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. ALSO, THE PERSON IN CHARGE MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE BY THE NEXT INSPECTION (UPON BEING INSPECTED) PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED
2
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: THERE IS NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISE AT THIS TIME. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010.
3
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: THERE ARE NO PEST LOGBOOK ON-PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE A PEST CONTROL LOGBOOK FROM A LICENSED ILLINOIS PEST CONTROL OPERATOR ON-PREMISE BY THE DAY OF RE-INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(C)
38
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: THERE IS NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE OR CLEAN-UP ITEMS ON-PREMISE. MUST PROVIDE NECESSARY ITEMS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
5
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 1/2 INCH GAP AT FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR SWEEP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOOR.
38
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR THE MOP SINK.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BASEMENT FLOOR CLUTTERED THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF THE FLOOR OR REMOVE THEM.
55
43
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Eli Tea Bar last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Eli Tea Bar on file is from Jan 26, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Eli Tea Bar?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Eli Tea Bar.
Has Eli Tea Bar's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Eli Tea Bar have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Eli Tea Bar 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 Eli Tea Bar inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Eli Tea Bar is inspected around two times per year on average.
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