Mama Ruth's Soul Food

5965 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60651

American

Last inspected: Mar 19, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Public records show four inspections at Mama Ruth's Soul Food stretching back to 2023. The most recent report on file is from Mar 19, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around one violation to closer to five violations.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up three times.

Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Mar 19, 2025

Routine

5 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO LABELS ON FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS CONTAINING SUGAR AND FLOUR ON SHELVING UNIT IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN REAR HANDWASHING SINK AND FOOD PREPARATION TABLE NEAR THE DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE OF CASES OF SODA POP STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NEAR THE DISPLAY COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE AT LEAST 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON SHELVING UNITS.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER STORAGE OF MOP IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO STORE PROPERLY.

Thermometers provided & accurate

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BROKEN AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER FOR INSIDE PREP AREA TABLE COOLING UNIT LABELED FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY, FOR EMPLOYEES LUNCHES, WATER/DRINKS, ETC. IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.

Jul 18, 2024

Complaint

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABELING ON CHOPPED WATERMELON AND DESSERTS IN DISPLAY COOLER IN FRONT PREP AREA.

Sep 6, 2023

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: 2-102.13: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.

Aug 29, 2023

License

1 major violation. 6 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT A HANDWASHING SINK MUST BE LOCATED TO ALLOW CONVENIENT USE BY EMPLOYEES IN DISHWASHING AREA. MUST INSTALL A HANDWASHING SINK IN SAID AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON SHELVING UNITS IN BROKEN WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD FROM SHELVING UNITS. ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED TORN/DAMAGED RUBBER GASKET ON 2 DOOR OF THE COOLER; INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE GASKET.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEAD NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT AND UNNECESSARY ARTICLES IN STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED, UNNECSSARY EQUIPMENT AND ARTICLES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WORKING VENTILATION FAN IN RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENT.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mama Ruth's Soul Food last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Mama Ruth's Soul Food on file is from Mar 19, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Mama Ruth's Soul Food?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Mama Ruth's Soul Food.

Has Mama Ruth's Soul Food's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Mama Ruth's Soul Food have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Mama Ruth's Soul Food 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 Mama Ruth's Soul Food inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Mama Ruth's Soul Food is inspected around three times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

L & E Vienna

5965 W Chicago Ave

Score: 50 — High Risk

Score: 70 — Medium Risk

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→ All locations in Chicago → American restaurants in Chicago