Ya Ya Mas
Last inspected: Mar 4, 2026
58
Score
Inspectors have visited Ya Ya Mas five times, with records going back to 2024. On Mar 4, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around nine violations lately compared to roughly two violations before.
Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.
The city-wide average sits at 81, which Ya Ya Mas' 58 doesn't quite reach. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
5
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 4, 2026
Complaint
1 critical violation. 8 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Proper hot holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 10 LBS STUFFED SPINACH AND CHEESE PIES UNDER HOT LAMPS IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA HELD AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF 80.6F AND 104.7F. ALL DISCARDED. REVIEWED PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS OR USING TIME AS A MEANS OF CONTROL. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
21
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD AS LINER UNDER THE OVEN. MUST BE A SMOOTH, CLEANABLE SURFACE.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: SOILED MOP HEADS MUST BE STORED INVERTED AT THE UTILITY SERVICE SINK.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MISSING BASEBOARD COVING IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND MISSING WALL AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.----MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD AS MATTING FOR FLOORS.----FLOORS UNDER THE REAR THREE COMPARTMENT SINK NOTED DIRTY, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: WALL MOUNTED PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER IN THE REAR DISH AREA MUST BE MOVED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE HAND WASHING SINK.
10
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SINK IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA.----MUST NOT STORE CLEAN UTENSILS HANGING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE UTILITY MOP SINK. MUST PROPERLY STORE IN A CLEAN AREA.
39
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEES PERSONAL BELONGS IN THE REAR.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE MILK OR SODA CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION THROUGHOUT THE PREP AREAS AND INSIDE THE WALK-IN FREEZER.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: MISSING/BROKEN DOOR HANDLES ON THE FRONT PREP TWO DOOR COOLER AND THE REAR PREP LARGER MICROWAVE OVEN.----EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE INTERIOR METAL RACK SHELVING INSIDE THE REAR TALL REACH-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR/REPLACE/REMOVE RUST.
47
58
Feb 3, 2025
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 - OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WORKING AT TIME OF INSPECTION WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES COMPLETE AND MAINTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING, AND ALL NEW HIRES RECEIVE TRAINING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HIRE.
57
95
Jan 27, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER AVAILABLE AT THE HAND SINK IN THE REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. UPON TURNING THE LEFT HANDLE, NO WATER PRESSURE AVAILABLE. HANDLE TURNS WITHOUT ENGAGING OR TURNING ON. TURNED ON RIGHT HANDLE, AND ONLY COLD WATER WAS AVAILABLE EVEN AFTER RUNNING THE WATER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE HOT WATER IS AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES WITH A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 100F. PRIORITY VIOLATION, 7-38-030(c). CITATION ISSUED.
10
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE COMPONENTS IN TO BE HEAVILY SOILED AND COVERED WITH A BLACK AND GREY SUBSTANCE ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS FOR CREATING AND STORING ICE. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN, SANTITIZE, AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR AND FOOD CONTACT SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION, 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
16
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BOXES OF FOOD ITEMS AND DRINKS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN FREEZER AND THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR TO ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE CLEANING.
39
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WORKING AT TIME OF INSPECTION WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES COMPLETE AND MAINTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING, AND ALL NEW HIRES RECEIVE TRAINING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HIRE.
57
70
Feb 5, 2024
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12--BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT COFFEE ESPRESSO MACHINE. MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-205.15--OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT BASE OF FAUCET AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WATER PLUMBING LEAK AND MAINTAIN.
51
90
Feb 2, 2024
License
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WASTE WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3- COMPARTMENT WHILE DRAINING WATER FROM THE MIDDLE COMPARTMENT,WASTE WATER BACKS UP INTO RIGHT AND LEFT COMPARTMENTS OF THE 3- COMPARTMENT SINK AND WATER SLOWLY DRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SO THAT WASTE WATERS ARE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C).
52
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
3
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GAP APPROX: 1 INCH OPENING AT BOTTOM OF REAR EXIT DOOR.INSTRUCTED TO MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING ALL ACROSS THE BOTTOM TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY AND MAINTAIN.
38
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER LEAK AT BASE OF FAUCET AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WATER PLUMBING LEAK AND MAINTAIN.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT COFFEE ESPRESSO MACHINE. MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
51
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN EXHAUST HOOD/LARGE OVEN AND SIDE EXHAUST FAN TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF HANGING DUSTS AND MAINTAIN.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
58
61
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ya Ya Mas last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Ya Ya Mas on file is from Mar 4, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Ya Ya Mas?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Ya Ya Mas.
Has Ya Ya Mas' inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Ya Ya Mas have averaged around nine violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Ya Ya Mas 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 Ya Ya Mas inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Ya Ya Mas is inspected around two times per year on average.
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