Tropical Smoothie Cafe

645 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Jul 18, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Public records show three inspections at Tropical Smoothie Cafe stretching back to 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Jul 18, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around one violation lately and about four violations before that.

Across the inspection history, “adequate ventilation & lighting” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.

Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Tropical Smoothie Cafe is comfortably above that bar. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jul 18, 2025

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: NOTED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON DUTY WHILE TCS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED (SMOOTHIES, CHICKEN, SALADS ETC)OR CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. CERTIFICATES ON SITE (SAFE SERVE ARE EXPIRED). INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.

Jul 3, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 6 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: MUST PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE SCOOPS STORED ON TOP OF ICE MACHINE. MUST PROPERLY STORE ICE SCOOPS IN A CLEAN CONTAINER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE IN FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA PREPARING AND SERVING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BURN OUT LIGHT BULB IN REAR PREP/FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REPLACE BURN OUT LIGHT AND MAINTAIN ADEQUATE LIGHTHING.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENT INSIDE THE UNISEX EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT FOODHANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES. MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT HAVE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE.

Oct 24, 2023

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE CEILING ABOVE THE REAR PREP TABLE, ANY DRY FOOD STORAGE AREAS IN THE REAR AND ABOVE THE ENTRANCE TO THE WALK-IN FREEZER.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING OR CERTIFICATE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER. MUST PROVIDE.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Tropical Smoothie Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Tropical Smoothie Cafe on file is from Jul 18, 2025. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Tropical Smoothie Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “adequate ventilation & lighting” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Has Tropical Smoothie Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Tropical Smoothie Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Tropical Smoothie 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 Tropical Smoothie Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.

Nearby Restaurants

Hotel Versey

644 W Diversey Pkwy

Score: 100 — Low Risk

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→ All locations in Chicago → Café / Breakfast restaurants in Chicago