Smoothie Joint
Last inspected: Jul 29, 2025
74
Score
Inspectors have visited Smoothie Joint four times, with records going back to 2019. On Jul 29, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around six violations each.
When inspectors have written things up, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” has been the most frequent reason, cited five times.
Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 29, 2025
Routine
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BURN OUT LIGHT BULB IN REAR FOOD STORAGE AREA/ DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPLACE LIGHT BULB AND MAINTAIN INTENSITY LIGHTING.
56
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS OR POSTERS NEAR HAND WASHING SINK IN THE EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
10
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ITEMS NOT ELEVATED OF THE FLOOR IN FRONT JUICE PREP AREA, REAR DISHWASHING AREA AND INSIDE WASHROO. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS OF THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
45
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE BUILD UP INSIDE UPRIGHT SMALL FREEZER LOCATED IN FRONT JUICE PREP AREA. MUST REMOVE ICE AND CLEAN INTERIOR OF FREEZER.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS IN THE UNISEX EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR IN FRONT JUICE PREP AREA AND IN THE UNISEX EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST CLEAN FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.
55
74
Aug 19, 2024
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NO HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT REAR PREP AREA HANDWASH SINK. MUST PROVIDE HANDWASH SIGNAGE AT SAID SINK.
10
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: SOME COOLERS MISSING THERMOMETERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE WORKING THERMOMETERS INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
36
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.
40
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RAW WOODEN SHELVES AT REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST SEAL SAID RAW WOODEN SHELVES, SHLEVES SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOOR CLUTTERED THROUGHOUT REAR PREP AREA. MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF FLOOR OR REMOVE ITEMS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD/DUST BUILD UP ON WALLS AT PREP AREAS. MUST CLEAN WALLS AND MAINTAIN.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITH NAMES OF EMPLOYEES ON PREMISES.
57
70
Sep 17, 2019
Reinspection
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: MANAGEMENT UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CLEANING UP VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ONE INCLUDING THE CHEMICALS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NOTED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION FOLLOWING THE NEW CODE AND GUIDELINES. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE VERIFICATION OF POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ONE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED TODAY.
3
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED THE BATHROOM DOOR AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT THE DOOR AND MAINTAIN
53
78
Sep 16, 2019
License
3 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NOTED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION FOLLOWING THE NEW CODE AND GUIDELINES. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE VERIFICATION OF POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ONE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED TODAY.
3
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: 4-302.14 NOTED NO SANITIZER TEST STRIP KIT ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A TEST STRIP KIT ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE STRENGTH OF THE SANITIZER PF. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED
48
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: MANAGEMENT UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CLEANING UP VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ONE INCLUDING THE CHEMICALS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED NO HAND WASH SINK AT THE FRONT PREP AREA. ADDITIONAL HAND WASH SINK NEEDED WITH SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS.
10
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NO SOAP AT REAR HAND WASH SINK AND BATHROOM SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS AT ALL TIMES.
10
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED NO PAPER TOWELS AT REAR HAND WASH SINK AND BATH ROOM SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS AT ALL SINKS.
10
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED WASH ROOMS ON PREMISE WITH GARBAGE RECEPTACLES AND NO LIDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TRASH CANS WITH LIDS AT ALL WOMEN WASH ROOMS AND UNISEX WASH ROOMS.
53
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED THE BATHROOM DOOR AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT THE DOOR AND MAINTAIN
53
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: NOTED NO COMMERCIAL GARBAGE DUMPSTER SERVICE OR PROOF OF CONTRACT WITH A LICENSE SCAVENGER SERVICE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ONE IN PLACE OR A CONTRACT WITH A GARBAGE COMPANY.
54
55
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Smoothie Joint last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Smoothie Joint on file is from Jul 29, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Smoothie Joint?
Across the inspection record, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Smoothie Joint.
Has Smoothie Joint's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Smoothie Joint have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Smoothie Joint means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Smoothie Joint inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Smoothie Joint is inspected about once every two years on average.
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