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J and L Food Service

1639 W Walnut St Bldg 1St/2Nd, Chicago, IL 60612
Catering
Last inspected: Apr 27, 2026
86
Score
Low Risk

J and L Food Service appears in inspection records eight times, starting in 2019. The latest inspection on file is from Apr 27, 2026. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.

Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around one violation lately and about four violations before that.

“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so J and L Food Service is doing better than most peers. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.

8
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 27, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER DISHWASHING AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. WHILE EMPLOYEE WAS WASHING DISHES, FOUND THAT THE WASH COMPARTMENT WAS NOT SET UP AND THE SANITIZER CONCENTRATION WAS 0PPM AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY SET UP THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND TO CHECK SANTIZER STRENGTH AT ALL TIMES. SWITCHED TO CHLORINE SANITIZER DUE TO SANITIZING DISPENSING MACHINE NEEDING TO BE SERVICED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025, CITATION ISSUED
16
86
May 20, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
May 30, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: NOTED EMPLOYEES IN FOOD PREP WITH LONG HAIR AND BEARD WITHOUT HAIR/BEARD RESTRAIN WORKING WITH EXPOSED FOOD. INSTRUCTED TO WEAR PROPER HAIR/BEARD RESTRAIN ALL TIMES WHEN PREPARING FOOD AND WORKING WITH EXPOSED FOOD.
40
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLY WITH FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING BY THE FOOD HANDLING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT ACT.
57
90
Apr 3, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD UP OF RESIDUE IN DRAINS UNDER THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK AND HIGH TEMP DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
95
Jul 7, 2022
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES (APRIL 2022 AND MAY 2022). MUST ENROLL FOOD HANDLERS IN FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY. ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING THROUGH ANSI ACCREDITED PROGRAM.
58
90
Aug 12, 2021
Routine
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE AT THE PLATE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
48
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE LABELS ON FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE.
37
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN APPX. "1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF FRONT DOOR. MUST MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN 2- COMP & HAND SINK IN PACK OUT AREA.
39
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP ON MEAT SLICER & GRILL TABLE IN 2ND HOT LINE,WALK IN COOLER #1 & 2 FAN GUARD COVERS.ICE BUILD UP FROM WALK IN FREEZER #5-COMPRESSOR UNIT.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST REMOVE WET MOPS FROM BUCKETS AND HANG TO DRY IN MOP SINK CLOSET.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED EPOXY FLOORING UNDER 3- COMPARTMENT SINK IN DISH WASHING AREA.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE BURNTOUT LIGHTS AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT IN 1ST & 2ND HOT LINES.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN GREASE BUILD UP FROM FILTERS AND HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT.
56
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST REMOVE FOIL LINED ON LOWER SHELF OF PREP TABLE AND REMOVE RUST FROM LOWER SHELF OF PREP TABLE IN 1ST HOT LINE AND WALK IN COOLER #1 SHELVING UNITS.MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE MISSING DOOR HANDLE ON REACH IN FREEZER #A-3 AND WORN DOOR GASKET ALONG BOTTOM OF WALK IN COOLER #4.
47
58
May 20, 2020
Routine
No violations found.
100
Apr 30, 2019
License
No violations found.
100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was J and L Food Service last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at J and L Food Service on file is from Apr 27, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at J and L Food Service?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at J and L Food Service.

Has J and L Food Service's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at J and L Food Service 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 J and L Food Service 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 J and L Food Service inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, J and L Food Service is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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