Same Day Cafe
Last inspected: Nov 19, 2025
86
Score
Same Day Cafe has been inspected 10 times since 2015. Inspectors last stopped by on Nov 19, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around two violations, down from roughly four violations earlier in the record.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited five times.
The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Same Day Cafe on the better side of that line. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 19, 2025
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: Bulk food ( flour, sugar...) not labeled, instructed to label and maintain.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: Customers can access food shelves on their way to restroom. Instructed to remove food shelves or protect from customers reach.
39
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Knives wedged between prep cooler and wall, instructed to keep on a clean surface.
43
86
Nov 19, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGNS AT HANDSINKS.MUST PROVIDE.
10
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FOUND WALLS AT BASEMENT STORAGE NOT SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN.MUST REPAIR.
55
90
Aug 25, 2023
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER PRESENT WHILE TCS FOODS (SOUP AT 144F) ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
90
Aug 17, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: REPAIR THE OPENING IN THE WALL OF THE FRONT WASHROOM.
55
95
Jun 9, 2021
Complaint
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FRONT COUNTER HANDWASH BOWL COLD WATER HANDLE STRIPPED. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT/DUST BUILD UP ON BASMENT FLOOR UNDER AND AROUND ITEMS AND ALONG WALLS/CORNERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN BASEMENT FLOOR.
55
90
Nov 5, 2019
Routine
4 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE IN A VERIFIABLE MANNER EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SUPPLIES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CLEAN UP SUPPLIES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
5
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER DATE MARKING ON REFRIGERATED READY TO EAT FOOD. ALL REFRIGERATED TCS FOOD HELD MORE THAN 24 HOURS SHALL BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH DATE BY WHICH FOOD IS TO BE SOLD, CONSUMED, OR DISCARDED WITH A MAXIMUM OF 7 DAYS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
23
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO DISCLOURE FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY ON MENU. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE DISCLOSURE/REMINDER ON MENU. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005
25
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DISPENSING UTENSIL HANDLE STORED INSIDE BUSCUIT MIX. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE HANDLES ABOVE FOOD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
43
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GLASSWARE NOT INVERTED ON PRESET TABLE SETTINGS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL GLASSWARE TO PREVENT PUBLIC CONTAMINATION.
44
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED GASKETS ON COOLER DOORS IN BEVERAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN COOLER GASKETS.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNFINISHED WALLS IN BASEMENT SINGLE SERVICE AND MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. ALL WALLS SHALL BE DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, AND INSTALLED SO THEY ARE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. OBSERVED DAMAGED, PEELING PAINT, AND HEAT STAINED CEILING ABOVE OVEN IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED AND MOLD RESIDUE ON WALLS IN UTILITY AREA. AFTER USE MOPS SHALL BE PLACED IN A POSITION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO AIR DRY WITHOUT SOILING WALLS, EQUIPMENT, OR SUPPLIES.
55
52
Dec 6, 2018
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVIOSORY. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE AND REMINDER TO ALL MENU. PRIORITY FOUNDTION, 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED. 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD GIVEN.
25
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE PRESENT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE VOMIT AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION, 7-38-005,NO CITATION GIVEN. 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD.
5
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY . INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION . 7-38-010, NO CITATION GIVEN. 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD GIVEN.
3
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACK FLOW DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE . INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE A VISIBLE BACK FLOW DEVICE.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING . INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
58
64
Aug 23, 2017
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: Caulk around 3 compartment sink and exposed hand sink in kitchen prep area in state of disrepair, shall be repaired/replaced. Reach in cooler shelving/racks that had peeling paint, shall be repaired/replaced.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: Non food contact surfaces of cooking equipment not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). reach in cooler shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices).
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: Floors in front counter area under shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners). Floors in bsmt storage area under storage shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners).
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: Ceiling in bsmt storage areas that had exposed plaster, wallboard, and holes shall be repaired/sealed.
35
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: Missing light shields in bsmt storage area shall be provided.
36
78
Apr 6, 2016
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector notes: NOTED ASSORTED FOOD ITEMS INSIDE REFRIGERATION UNIT NOT PROPERLY LABELED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOOD ITEMS WITH PRODUCT NAME, PREPARED BY DATE AND/OR USED BY DATE.
30
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN REACH IN FREEZER AT THE REAR PREP AREA WITH ICE BUILT UP ON THE BOTTOM SHELVING.
33
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: NOTED CLUTTER THROUGH OUT THE BASEMENT DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, ORGANIZE AND/OR REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ARTICLES TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST.
41
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: NOTED SOME EMPLOYEES WITH NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EMPLOYEES MUST HAVE THEIR FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
45
82
Apr 14, 2015
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE ICE BIN COVER AT FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA.
32
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: KNEE WALL AT THE FRONT COUNTER SERVICE AREA. MUST BE SMOOTH EASILY AND CLEANABLE SURFACES. OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILE IN REAR PREP AREA ABOVE EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK. MUST PROVIDE/MAINTAIN.
35
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Same Day Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Same Day Cafe on file is from Nov 19, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Same Day Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Same Day Cafe.
Has Same Day Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Same Day Cafe have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Same Day 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 Same Day Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Same Day Cafe is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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