Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar

6606 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
African
Last inspected: Oct 14, 2025
64
Score
Medium Risk

Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar has a thin inspection record, with only two visits on file so far. On Oct 14, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.

Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around six violations to closer to nine violations per visit.

When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited five times.

That's lower than the typical Chicago restaurant, which scores around 81. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.

2
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
9
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 14, 2025
Complaint
9 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD STORED IN CONTAINERS IN ALL THE COOLERS, WALK IN COOLER AND DRY STORAGE WITHOUT PROPER LABELING OF NAME. INSTRUCTED TO PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A LABEL REFLECTING THE FOOD ITEM'S NAME WHEN FOOD HAS BEEN REMOVE FROM ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND MAIN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
39
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON SEVERAL PREP SURFACE AREAS AND HANGING NEAR HANDWASHING SINK IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT & FOOD. MUST MAINTAIN
41
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED KNIVES BEING STORED IMPROPERLY. INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO PROPERLY STORE UTENSILS BETWEEN USES.
43
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-501.12 OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE REAR PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-205.15 OBSERVED 3 SINKS IN BAR AREA NEXT TO BEER DISPENSER TO BE SLOW DRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.114 OBSERVED OUT OF USE PREP COOLER, BAKERY EQUIPMENT, DELI SLICER, AND EXCESS, CLUTTER AND ITEMS IN REAR STORAGE AND OFFICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DECLUTTER AND REMOVE ALL ITEMS FROM PREMISES NOT NECESSARY FOR OPERATION AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING, AND STORAGE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING AND DAMAGED POROUS FLOORS THROUGHOUT MAIN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
64
Aug 19, 2025
License
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED GASKET AT PREP COOLER ADAJACENT TO HOT COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE REAR PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUMP SINK IN BAR AREA NEXT TO BEER DISPENSER TO BE SLOW DRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED OUT OF USE PREP COOLER, BAKERY EQUIPMENT, DELI SLICER, ETC STORED ON SITE FROM PREVIOUS OCCUPANT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL ITEMS FROM PREMISES NOT NECESSARY FOR OPERATION AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOORS THROUGHOUT MAIN PREP AREA AND IN WALK IN COOLER WITH CHIPPED/PEELING PAINT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAINT/REFINISH TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSONS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLETION OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.
58
74

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar on file is from Oct 14, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar.

Has Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly six earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Mama's African Kitchen Restaurant & Bar means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.