Non-Inspection
Jan 6, 2026
No Entry
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jan 6, 2026 · Original Source
Restaurant · Chicago, IL
Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1
5341 S Kedzie Ave
Last inspected Jan 6, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗
No Entry
Get the next inspection, free.
We'll email you when Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1 has a new health inspection. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.
Own this restaurant? Add an inspection badge to your website · Inspection prep checklist
SteadyThe last two inspections recorded a similar number of violations. Review the dated records below.
The full inspection history
4 inspectionsNon-Inspection
Dec 29, 2025
No Entry
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Dec 29, 2025 · Original Source
Non-Inspection
Jan 22, 2025
No Entry
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jan 22, 2025 · Original Source
Canvass
May 16, 2024
Fail
12 recorded violations
notedCode 1Permits, training, and postings
Official wording
PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH FOODSERVICE MANAGER TRAINING.
In plain English
A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.
More about paperwork, training, or posting issuesnotedCode 2Permits, training, and postings
Official wording
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PIC THAT VALID CERTIFICATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CERTIFIED MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS(CHICKEN, BEANS). ARE PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
In plain English
A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.
More about paperwork, training, or posting issuesnotedCode 10Handwashing
Official wording
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED HAND SINKS IN FRONT PREP AREA, REAR PREP AREA, AND BASEMENT PREP AREA NOT ACCESSIBLE. BASIN WAS FILLED WITH UTENSILS AND A PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINER, BLOCKED BY MOP, AND COVERED WITH APRON. INSTRUCTED THAT SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
In plain English
Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.
More about handwashing problemsnotedCode 35Food temperature
Official wording
APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED RAW MEAT BEING THAWED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ON THE FLOOR IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL THAWING MUST OCCUR UNDER REFRIGERATION OR POTABLE RUNNING COLD WATER AT 70F OR BELOW.
In plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
More about food kept at an unsafe temperaturenotedCode 38Pests
Official wording
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED 1/4 IN GAP ALONG SIDE OF REAR EXTERIOR EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.
More about signs of rodents or insectsnotedCode 45Equipment and utensils
Official wording
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE UTENSILS and COOKING EQUIPMENT IMPROPERLY STORED IN FURNACE ROOM AND MOP SINK ROOM. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND PROPERLY STORE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.
In plain English
Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.
More about equipment or utensil issuesnotedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED CARDBOARD FOIL AND ELECTRICAL TAPE USED ON SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEAN SURFACES.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 48Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS AND IN-USE COOKING EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS (POTS, PANS, RICE COOKER BASIN ETC.) TOO LARGE FOR 3-COMPARTMENT WAREWASHING SINK. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE SINK COMPARTMENTS SHALL BE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE IMMERSION OF THE LARGEST EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. IF SAID EQUIPMENT OR UTENSILS ARE TOO LARGE FOR WAREWASHING SINK, A WAREWASHING MACHINE OR ALTERNATIVE EQUIPMENT MUST BE PROVIDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED RUST AND RESIDUE BUILD UP ON TABLES AND EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT RESTROOM FOR UNISEX USE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A COVERED RECEPTACLE AND MAINTAIN IT AT ALL TIMES.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILINGS AND WALLS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: BASEMENT RESTROOM CEILING, BASEMENT WALLS, AND WALLS IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR ALL AREAS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE AND MAINTENANCE.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 56Facility maintenance
Official wording
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF GREASE AND GRIME ON FILTERS IN HOOD SYSTEM IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.
More about building upkeep issuesOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, May 16, 2024 · Original Source