Mandala Cafe

1641 W 18Th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Mar 14, 2025
95
Score
Low Risk

The health department has logged three inspections at Mandala Cafe, the earliest from 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 14, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around one violation compared to roughly four violations earlier on.

The pattern that stands out is “management, food employee and conditional employee”, which has been cited two times.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Mandala Cafe is doing better than most peers. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 14, 2025
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
51
95
Mar 7, 2025
Complaint
4 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: 6-501.115 UPON ARRIVAL TO THE FACILITY, INSPECTOR OBSERVED A PET DOG ON PREMISES WITH A CUSTOMER. INSTRUCTED NOT TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO ENTER WITH PETS AS PETS ARE PROHIBITED ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-40-060.
38
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: 2-102.14(O) OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-010.
3
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: 4-302.12 OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER ON SITE TO TAKE TEMPERATURES OF COLD AND HOT FOODS PROPERLY. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
36
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: 2-101.11 OBSERVED THE PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT AN ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE POSTED. AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION, A COPY OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE WAS POSTED. INSTRUCTED THE ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE MUST BE ON SITE AND POSTED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
2
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: 3-601.11 OBSERVED PREPACKAGED DESSERTS FOR SALE IN A REFRIGERATOR IN THE CUSTOMER DINING AREA WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE INGREDIENTS AND BUSINESS ADDRESS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
37
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: 2-402.11 OBSERVED THE FOOD HANDLER ON SITE WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINT SUCH AS A CAP OR A HAIR NET. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT ALL TIMES.
40
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
51
58
Aug 3, 2022
License
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: 2-102.14(O) OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010.
3
90

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mandala Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Mandala Cafe on file is from Mar 14, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Mandala Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “management, food employee and conditional employee” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Mandala Cafe.

Has Mandala Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Mandala Cafe 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 Mandala Cafe 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 Mandala Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Mandala Cafe is inspected roughly once per year on average.