Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Last inspected: Feb 26, 2026
90
Score
Potbelly Sandwich Shop appears in inspection records 10 times, starting in 2018. The most recent report on file is from Feb 26, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near two violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded nine times.
Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Potbelly Sandwich Shop is comfortably above that bar. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 26, 2026
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE WITH NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE, ONLY PHOTO COPY ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE A VALID/ORGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012.
2
90
Mar 6, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE DEEP FREEZER IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED FLOOR IN REAR PREP. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
47
86
Apr 19, 2024
Recent Inspection
No violations found.
100
Apr 15, 2024
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HEAVY FOOD DEBRIS THROUGHOUT FLOORS IN REAR PREP, AND FRONT PREP AREAS, BEHIND ALL EQUIPMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED KICK PLATE SCREWS COMING OFF, ON DOOR LEADING TO REAR PREP, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING MECHANICAL VENTILATION COVER IN CEILING OF DISHWASHING AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE, AND MAINTAIN.
56
86
May 25, 2023
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE BIN LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA OUTER LID A LITTLE DIRTYAND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF BREAD STORAGE RACKS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOLE IN CEILING ABOVE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO ENCLOSE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DETACHED WALL BASE IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE.
55
86
Aug 23, 2022
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: coolers thermometer placed at rear behind food containers, instructed to keep in a conspicuous area.
36
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: Bulk food container (salt) not labeled, instructed to label and maintain.
37
90
Oct 5, 2021
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: EXCESSIVE FOOD DEBRIS ACCUMULATION NOTED ON THE INTERIOR BOTTOM OF THE MILKSHAKE COOLER. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. FOUND ICE AND OLD FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR INSIDE THE WALK-IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE ICE, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
49
95
Jul 9, 2019
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 2-402.11. Inspector Comments: - OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEE IN THE REAR PREP AREA WITHOUT WEARING ANY HAIR RESTRAINTS. MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEES.
40
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 4-601.11(C). Inspector Comments: - OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF ICE AND DEBRIS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE CREAM FREEZER. MUST REMOVE EXCESS ICE AND DEBRIS, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 6-501.12. Inspector Comments: - OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS INSIDE THE FLOOR DRAINS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. MUST REMOVE DEBRIS BUILDUP, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS BUILDUP ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE COUNTERS, SHELVING, AND EQUIPMENT IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. MUST REMOVE DEBRIS, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN AREA CLEANLINESS.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 6-501.14. Inspector Comments: - OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS BUILDUP ON THE CEILING EXHAUST VENTILATION IN THE REAR PREP AREA. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
56
82
Jul 5, 2019
Routine
1 critical violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: - OBSERVED THE FRONT PREP COOLER LOCATED NEXT TO THE SANDWICH TOASTER HOLDING IMPROPER TEMPERATURE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF THE COOLER IS 57.0F AT THIS TIME. MUST PROVIDE ALL COLD HOLD EQUIPMENT TO MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. VIOLATION CORRECTED ON SITE. THE COOLER HAS BEEN TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. REMOVAL OF THE TAG OR USE OF THE COOLER IS PROHIBITED AT THIS TIME. MUST CONTACT CDPH AT FOOD@CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG TO REQUEST TAG REMOVAL INSPECTION, ONCE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. PRIORITY VIOLATION#:7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED. -
33
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: - OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEE IN THE REAR PREP AREA WITHOUT WEARING ANY HAIR RESTRAINTS. MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEES. -
40
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: - OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF ICE AND DEBRIS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE CREAM FREEZER. MUST REMOVE EXCESS ICE AND DEBRIS, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN. -
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: - OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS INSIDE THE FLOOR DRAINS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. MUST REMOVE DEBRIS BUILDUP, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS BUILDUP ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE COUNTERS, SHELVING, AND EQUIPMENT IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. MUST REMOVE DEBRIS, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN AREA CLEANLINESS. -
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: - OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS BUILDUP ON THE CEILING EXHAUST VENTILATION IN THE REAR PREP AREA. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. -
56
70
Oct 3, 2018
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.13- OBSERVED NO COVING FIXTURE ATTACHED TO WALL AND FLOOR JUNCTIONS DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH HAND SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INSTALL. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11-OBSERVED 9.5 FEET LONG GAP/CRACK/EXPOSED FLOOR JOINT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, ON FLOOR. INFORMED MANAGER THAT SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL AREA AND ENSURE SURFACE IS SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Potbelly Sandwich Shop last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Potbelly Sandwich Shop on file is from Feb 26, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Potbelly Sandwich Shop?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited nine times, more than any other issue at Potbelly Sandwich Shop.
Has Potbelly Sandwich Shop's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Potbelly Sandwich Shop have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Potbelly Sandwich Shop 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 Potbelly Sandwich Shop inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Potbelly Sandwich Shop is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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