Sterling Food Hall

125 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60603
Other
Last inspected: Mar 23, 2026
74
Score
Medium Risk

The health department has logged three inspections at Sterling Food Hall, the earliest from 2024. On Mar 23, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around six violations each, up from closer to three violations before.

“Non-food/food contact surfaces clean” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.

Sterling Food Hall's latest score of 74 falls below the Chicago average of 81. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.

3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
6
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 23, 2026
Reinspection
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: 4-903.11 (A;B;D) : MUST INVERT MULTI-USE UTENSILS ON DISH STORAGE SHELVES IN BASEMENT AND 20TH FL.
44
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-601.11(C) : MUST CLEAN GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM ALL REACH IN COOLERS,WALK IN COOLER-SHELVING UNITS.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-205.15 : MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE FAR RIGHT URINAL IN CUSTOMERS MEN'S TOILET ROOM TO BE IN GOOD REPAIR.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.13 Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT 20TH FL. PREP AREA.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 6-501.14 : MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FILTERS AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT ON 20TH FL.
56
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: 3-307.11 : OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD IN BETWEEN DRAIN BOARDS OF BASEMENT AND 20TH FL. 2- COMPARTMENT SINK(VEGETABLE WASH) & 3- COMPARTMENT SINK (DISH WASHING) NEXT TO EACH OTHER MUST PROVIDE TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION.
39
74
Apr 16, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE OF FOUR METERED HANDSINKS IN THE WOMENS CUSTOMER RESTROOM NOT WORKING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: MUST LABEL ALL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IN THE BASEMENT PREP AREA WITH THE COMMON NAME OF FOOD ITEM(S).
37
90
Oct 3, 2024
License
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE IN THE BAR AREA, LASHUK, AND FARE NOT SANITIZING. CHLORINE READING 0 PPM. PRIORITY VIOLATION, 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED. ECOLAB ARRIVED DURING INSPECTION TO REPAIR DISH MACHINES. DISH MACHINES NOW SANITIZING AND CHLORINE READS 100 PPM.
16
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE FOR HANDWASHING SINK IN THE COFFEE STATION.
10
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN DUST FROM FAN GUARDS IN THE COMMON AREA WALK-IN COOLER.
49
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
58
74

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sterling Food Hall last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Sterling Food Hall on file is from Mar 23, 2026. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Sterling Food Hall?

Across the inspection record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Sterling Food Hall.

Has Sterling Food Hall's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Sterling Food Hall have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Sterling Food Hall means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.