Zalmans

2931 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60645

American

Last inspected: Jan 23, 2025

Score

High Risk

There aren't many inspections to draw from yet: just two so far. The newest entry in the record is dated Jan 23, 2025. High risk indicates the latest inspection turned up problems worth knowing about.

Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around two violations to closer to 16 violations per visit.

When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Zalmans trails the local norm. Diners may want to scan the inspection details before deciding to visit.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 23, 2025

Routine

4 major violations. 12 minor violations.

View 16 violations

Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE DURING THE INSPECTION DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE DURING THE INSPECTION DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

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

Inspector notes: NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.

Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp

Inspector notes: NOTED APPROXIMATELY 10 LBS READY TO EAT TCS PASTRAMI AND TURKEY PREPARED AND PACKAGED ONSITE IN REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER AT 38 F WITH NO PRODUCT LABEL, PRODUCTION DATE OR TIME. MANAGER STATES R.O.P FOODS ARE NOT HELD LONGER THAN 48 HOURS. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED THE ABOVE MEATS. REVIEWED R.O.P. LABELING AND HACCP REQUIREMENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS, INCLUDING BULK SALT CONTAINER IN FRONT PREP, MUST BE LABELED WITH THE PRODUCT COMMON NAME.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: NOTED CLEAN UTENSILS HANGING ABOVE THE DIRTY DISH AREA AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL CLEAN UTENSIL FROM THE DIRTY DISH SIDE.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: ALL FOOD PREPARERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS INCLUDING BEARD RESTRAINTS.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: ALL PREP AREA WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE HELD IN A CONTAINER WITH A SANITIZING SOLUTION.

Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

Inspector notes: ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY, INCLUDING THE BASEMENT STORAGE MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF THE FRONT PREP HAND WASHING SINK WITH FOOD DEBRIS AND DIRT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: LEAK UNDER THE DISH AREA HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE FRONT PREP AREA WITH DIRT, DEBRIS AND GREASE UNDER SHELVING AND COOKS LINE EQUIPMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.----NOTED MISSING CEILING TILES IN SEVERAL AREAS THROUGHOUT THE REAR KITCHEN. MUST REPLACE.----NOTED MISSING FLOOR DRAIN COVERS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT STORAGE. MUST PROVIDE.----OBSERVED POOLING WATER IN SEVERAL AREAS IN THE BASEMENT. MUST REMOVE POOLING LIQUID AND REPAIR ANY LEAKS/DRIPS FROM PIPING/SOURCE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: NOTED SOILED MOP HEADS MUST BE STORED INVERTED AT THE UTILITY SERVICE SINK.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: NOTED EMPLOYEES PERSONAL BELONGINGS BEING STORED IN DRY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING. MUST PROVIDE A DESIGNATED NON-FOOD CONTACT AREA FOR EMPLOYEES PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING OR CERTIFICATE FOR THE SANITATION CERTIFICATE NOTED ON THE PREMISES. MUST PROVIDE.

Mar 1, 2024

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF BOTTOM OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOOR ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN BASEMENT REAR DRY STORAGE AREA AND FLOORS INSIDE WATER CLOSET (BY THE STAIRCASE) IN THE BASEMENT.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Zalmans last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Zalmans on file is from Jan 23, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Zalmans?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Zalmans.

Has Zalmans' inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Zalmans have averaged around 16 violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at Zalmans means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.

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