Mela
Last inspected: Feb 17, 2026
78
Score
Mela has a thin inspection record, with only two visits on file so far. Mela was last inspected on Feb 17, 2026. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.
Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around 10 violations to closer to five violations per visit.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, showing up four times.
Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
2
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 17, 2026
Reinspection
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CEILING ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA TO BE IN POOR REPAIR, HEAVY EVIDENCE OF VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND CEILING CRACKED WITH OPEN HOLE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE CEILING ABOVE THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TO ELIMINATE VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND OPEN HOLE AND MAINTAIN ALL PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN GOOD REPAIR.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO BE SOILED: FLOOR OF THE FRONT AND REAR SERVICE AREAS SOILED WITH GREASE, RUST DEBRIS, AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS; FLOOR BENEATH 2-COMPARTMENT AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINKS IN THE REAR PREPARATION/WAREWASHING AREAS SOILED WITH RUST DEBRIS, FLOOR OF THE WALK-IN COOLER AREA SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HEAVY BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ON FILTERS AND INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM ABOVE DEEP FRYERS AND OVENS IN THE REAR SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS OF ADEQUATE NUMBER AND CAPACITY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ALONG INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION SYSTEM AND ADJACENT PHYSICAL FACILITY SURFACES.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MISSING ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.
58
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT TO BE SOILED: INTERIOR BASINS OF HOT-HOLDING WELL IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH RUST DEBRIS; SIDES AND INTERIOR CAVITY OF PIZZA OVEN AND DEEP FRYERS IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS; INTERIOR CAVITY OF SEVERAL LINE COOLERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
49
78
Feb 5, 2026
License
1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY HAS NO CONTRACTED WASTE REMOVAL SERVICE AND NO COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AVAILABLE FOR USE ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LICENSED WASTE REMOVAL SERVICE AND MAINTAIN AT LEAST ONE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER OF ADEQUATE SIZE AND CAPACITY TO REMOVE ALL FOOD WASTE ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR USE AT ALL TIMES OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(B) NO CITATION ISSUED.
54
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FRONT PREPARATION AREA HANDWASHING SINK MISSING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
10
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FIVE DEAD COCKROACHES IN THE BASIN OF THE WAREWASHING AREA HANDWASHING SINK. NO OTHER COCKROACHES, OTHER PESTS, OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY OBSERVED ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DEAD COCKROACHES, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREA(S), NOTIFY PEST CONTROL SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN ALL AREAS OF THE FACILITY FROM DEAD OR TRAPPED INSECTS AND OTHER PESTS TO PREVENT BUILD UP AND DECOMPOSITION AND MAINTAIN.
38
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES TO BE NOT SMOOTH OR EASILY-CLEANABLE: ALUMINUM FOIL USED TO LINE NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF DEEP FRYERS IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA; FABRIC STRIPS USED TO WRAP NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF WALL-MOUNTED VEGETABLE SLICER IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL AND FABRIC STRIPS AND MAINTAIN ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT TO BE SOILED: INTERIOR BASINS OF HOT-HOLDING WELL IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH RUST DEBRIS; SIDES AND INTERIOR CAVITY OF PIZZA OVEN AND DEEP FRYERS IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS; INTERIOR CAVITY OF SEVERAL LINE COOLERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR-MOUNTED PLUMBING AND UTILITY LINES BEHIND AND BENEATH DEEP FRYER AND OVENS IN THE REAR SERVICE AREA TO BE LINED WITH ALUMINUM FOIL AND SOILED FABRIC STRIPS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL AND FABRIC STRIPS AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING AND UTILITY FIXTURES SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CEILING ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA TO BE IN POOR REPAIR, HEAVY EVIDENCE OF VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND CEILING CRACKED WITH OPEN HOLE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE CEILING ABOVE THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TO ELIMINATE VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND OPEN HOLE AND MAINTAIN ALL PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN GOOD REPAIR.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO BE SOILED: FLOOR OF THE FRONT AND REAR SERVICE AREAS SOILED WITH GREASE, RUST DEBRIS, AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS; FLOOR BENEATH 2-COMPARTMENT AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINKS IN THE REAR PREPARATION/WAREWASHING AREAS SOILED WITH RUST DEBRIS, FLOOR OF THE WALK-IN COOLER AREA SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HEAVY BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ON FILTERS AND INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM ABOVE DEEP FRYERS AND OVENS IN THE REAR SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS OF ADEQUATE NUMBER AND CAPACITY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ALONG INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION SYSTEM AND ADJACENT PHYSICAL FACILITY SURFACES.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MISSING ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.
58
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mela last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Mela on file is from Feb 17, 2026. The public record contains two inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Mela?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Mela.
Has Mela's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Mela have averaged around five violations per visit, down from roughly 10 earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Mela means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
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