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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Max's Restaurant Corporation

5300 W Madison St

Last inspected Mar 27, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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ImprovingThe latest inspection recorded fewer violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

Canvass Re-Inspection

Mar 27, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

8 recorded violations

notedCode 2Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

Inspector’s notes

2-101.11 OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT VALID ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE PREARING TCS FOODS (CHICKEN, SLICED TOMATOES, gyros, BEEF). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE WHILE OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #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 issues
notedCode 40Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT DURING THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues
notedCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS AIR DRYING AND STORED THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN SANITIZING BUCKET WITH SOLUTION AT 50 PPM.

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 problems
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

4-201.11 OBSERVED A 2-DOOR COOLING UNIT WHERE BEEF AND CHICKEN ARE STORED WITH BROKEN HANDLES AND TAPE HOLDING TOGETHER THE GASKETS ON THE COOLING UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO REAPIR AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

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 problems
notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

4-602.13 OBSERVED COOLING UNITS THROUGHOUT FRONT AND REAR PREP AREAS IN NEED OF CLEANING ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES. MUST MIANTAIN.

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 problems
notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

5-205.15 OBSERVED PIPING UNDERNEATH HANDS LEAKING IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-501.13 OBSERVED DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOORS BEHIND ALL HEAVY EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE HEAVY GREASE BUILDUP UNDER FRYING EQUIPMENT.

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 problems
notedCode 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

6-303.11 OBSERVED BROKEN LIGHT BULBS IN THE FRONT PREP AREA ABOVE THE PREP TABLE/COOLING UNITS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.

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 issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 27, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 18, 2025

Fail

9 recorded violations

notedCode 2Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT VALID ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE PREARING TCS FOODS (CHICKEN, SLICED TOMATOES, BEEF). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE WHILE OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #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 issues
notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 60 SMALL RODENT DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR IN REAR PREP, ON SHELVING UNITS OF PREP TABLES, INSIDE CARDBOARD BOXES CONTAINING UNUSED EQUIPMENT, SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR BEHIND WIRED RACK WHERE NACHO CHEESE IS STORED, ON TOP OF GREY BINS, AND RACK NEXT TO 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-020 (A). CITATION ISSUED.

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 insects
notedCode 40Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT DURING THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues
notedCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS AIR DRYING AND STORED THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN SANITIZING BUCKET WITH SOLUTION AT 50 PPM.

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 problems
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED WALLS WITH EXCESSIVE SPLATTER THROUGHOUT THE PREP AREA. INSURED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

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 problems
notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED COOLING UNITS THROUGHOUT FRONT AND REAR PREP AREAS IN NEED OF CLEANING ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES. MUST MIANTAIN.

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 problems
notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PIPING UNDERNEATH HANDS LEAKING IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REAPIR AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOORS BEHIND ALL HEAVY EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE HEAVY GREASE BUILDUP UNDER FRYING EQUIPMENT.

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 problems
notedCode 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED BROKEN LIGHT BULBS IN THE FRONT PREP AREA ABOVE THE PREP TABLE/COOLING UNITS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.

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 issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 18, 2025 · Original Source

License

Mar 11, 2024

Pass w/ Conditions

2 recorded violations

notedCode 3Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOODS AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE FOR REVIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-010. NO 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 issues
notedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF-CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

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 problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 11, 2024 · Original Source

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