Lou Malnati's

410 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Pizza

Last inspected: Nov 12, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Across the available record, Lou Malnati's has seven inspections on file, the first dated 2019. On Nov 12, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.

There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near two violations per visit across recent inspections.

The pattern that stands out is “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable”, which has been cited three times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Lou Malnati's on the better side of that line. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Nov 12, 2025

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE CREAM WELL WITH HEAVY FROST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DEFROST.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE WITH LIGHT CALCIUM BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED EXTERIROR SODA NOZZLES WITH SYRUP BUILD UP INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXTERIOR OF GREASE RECEPTACLE WITH LIGHT GREASE BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Dec 9, 2024

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWEL AT BAR THE HAND-SINK IN THE PREP AREA. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT PAPER TOWELS MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HAND SINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED PAPER TOWEL FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Jan 22, 2024

Recent Inspection

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

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

Inspector notes: 4-501.12: CUTTING BOARDS (IN PIZZA PREP-LINE) ARE SERVERELY SCRATCHED WHICH PREVENTS PROPER CLEANING AND SANITIZING OF EQUIPMENT. FACILITY MUST RESURFACE BOARD OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARD.

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Inspector notes: 4-603.15: EQUIPMENT USED IN THE FACILITY IS TOO LARGE TO FIT AND FULLY IMMERSE WITHIN THE COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. FACILITY MUST INSTALL A LARGER 3COMPARTMENT SINKTHAT WILL ALLOW ALL EQUIPMENT TO BE IMMERSED, USE SMALLER EQUIPMENT THAT CAN FIT IN THE EXISTING 3 COMPARTMENT SINK OR USE AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF MANUAL WAREWASHING APPROVED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Jan 18, 2024

Routine

1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector notes: MEASURED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF THE FOLLOWING FOODS FOUND IN THE PREP-LINE COOLER NEAR OVENS. ITEMS INCLUDE CHEESE SAUCE MEASURED AT 52.1F, CHICKEN MEASURED AT 52F, TOMATOES MEASUED AT 48F, TCS PASTRY ITEMS MEASURED AT 50F. APPROXIMATELY 15LBS OF FOOD WAS DISCARDED AT A TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST OF $50. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

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

Inspector notes: CUTTING BOARDS (IN PIZZA PREP-LINE) ARE SERVERELY SCRATCHED WHICH PREVENTS PROPER CLEANING AND SANITIZING OF EQUIPMENT. FACILITY MUST RESURFACE BOARD OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARD.

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Inspector notes: EQUIPMENT USED IN THE FACILITY IS TOO LARGE TO FIT AND FULLY IMMERSE WITHIN THE COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. FACILITY MUST INSTALL A LARGER 3COMPARTMENT SINKTHAT WILL ALLOW ALL EQUIPMENT TO BE IMMERSED, USE SMALLER EQUIPMENT THAT CAN FIT IN THE EXISTING 3 COMPARTMENT SINK OR USE AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF MANUAL WAREWASHING APPROVED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Apr 10, 2023

Routine

No violations found.

100

Jan 4, 2022

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

In-use utensils: properly stored

Inspector notes: ICE SCOOPS STORED ON TOP OF DUSTY ICE MAKER, INSTRUCTED TO KEEP IN A CLERAN SURFCE.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: ICE SCOOP HOLDERS NOT CLEAN INSIDE, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTIAN.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN EMPLOYEES BASEMENT'S RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.

Oct 8, 2019

License

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

Inspector notes: - OBSERVED NO SANITIZER PROVIDED FOR THE CLEAN UP KIT ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE A SANITIZING SOLUTION FOR THE VOMITOUS AND DIARRHEAL CLEAN UP KIT THAT IS EFFECTIVE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF NOROVIRUS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION#:7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED. -

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Lou Malnati's last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Lou Malnati's on file is from Nov 12, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Lou Malnati's?

Across the inspection record, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Lou Malnati's.

Has Lou Malnati's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Lou Malnati's have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Lou Malnati'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 Lou Malnati's inspected?

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

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