Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady

1932 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60608

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Jan 8, 2026

Score

Medium Risk

The health department has logged three inspections at Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady, the earliest from 2025. Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady was last inspected on Jan 8, 2026. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.

The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around two violations to closer to seven violations.

“Allergen training as required” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing three times across the record.

By comparison, the average Chicago facility scores 81, putting Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady on the weaker side. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 8, 2026

Routine

7 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: REAR EXIT DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FLOORS AT BASEMENT PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL STANDING WATER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN DRY. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: HOOD VENT AT 1ST FLOOR PREP IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE GREASE AND HOOD AT BASEMENT PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: ALLERGEN CERTIFICATE NEEDED FOR MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: HANDWASHING SIGNS IN NEED OF REPLACING. WET/DRY CURLED UP INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN

Approved thawing methods used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED A BAG OF FROZEN CHILIES (NON TCS) THAWING ON COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO THAW ALL TCS FOOD ITEMS UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER OR UNDER REFRIGERATION.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: ALL BULF ITEMS SHOULD BE STORED IN A CLEAN CONTAINER WITH IDENTIFIYING MARKERS. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN

Mar 11, 2025

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE WAS PROVIDED FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS MUST MEET REQUIREMENT.

Mar 6, 2025

License

2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 4 violations

Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

Inspector notes: 4-301.11 OBSERVED THE WALK-IN COOLER AND A PREP COOLER NOT TURNED ON AND MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. OBSERVED A HOT HOLDING UNIT NOT TURNED ON AND MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 135F OR ABOVE FOR ALL HOT HOLDING UNITS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: 3-306.11 OBSERVED MULTIPLE POTS STORED OUTSIDE IN THE BACKYARD AREA OF THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE STORED INSIDE OF THE FACILITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

Inspector notes: 3-603.11 OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENU FOR ITEMS THAT CAN BE ORDERED UNDERCOOKED OR RAW, SUCH AS EGG ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE FOR ALL ITEMS ORDERED UNDERCOOKED OR RAW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.

Allergen training as required

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady on file is from Jan 8, 2026. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady?

Across the inspection record, “allergen training as required” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady.

Has Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady have averaged around seven violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Tamale Lady Inc — the Tamale Lady means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

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