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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Mela

162 N Franklin St

Last inspected Feb 17, 2026 · 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

2 inspections

License Re-Inspection

Feb 17, 2026

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT TO BE SOILED: INTERIOR BASINS OF HOT-HOLDING WELL IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH RUST DEBRIS; SIDES AND INTERIOR CAVITY OF PIZZA OVEN AND DEEP FRYERS IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS; INTERIOR CAVITY OF SEVERAL LINE COOLERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL 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 problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED CEILING ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA TO BE IN POOR REPAIR, HEAVY EVIDENCE OF VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND CEILING CRACKED WITH OPEN HOLE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE CEILING ABOVE THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TO ELIMINATE VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND OPEN HOLE AND MAINTAIN ALL PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN GOOD REPAIR.

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 HEAVY BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ON FILTERS AND INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM ABOVE DEEP FRYERS AND OVENS IN THE REAR SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS OF ADEQUATE NUMBER AND CAPACITY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ALONG INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION SYSTEM AND ADJACENT PHYSICAL FACILITY SURFACES.

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
notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MISSING ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.

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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 17, 2026 · Original Source

License

Feb 5, 2026

Fail

9 recorded violations

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FRONT PREPARATION AREA HANDWASHING SINK MISSING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

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 problems
notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FIVE DEAD COCKROACHES IN THE BASIN OF THE WAREWASHING AREA HANDWASHING SINK. NO OTHER COCKROACHES, OTHER PESTS, OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY OBSERVED ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DEAD COCKROACHES, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREA(S), NOTIFY PEST CONTROL SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN ALL AREAS OF THE FACILITY FROM DEAD OR TRAPPED INSECTS AND OTHER PESTS TO PREVENT BUILD UP AND DECOMPOSITION 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 insects
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES TO BE NOT SMOOTH OR EASILY-CLEANABLE: ALUMINUM FOIL USED TO LINE NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF DEEP FRYERS IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA; FABRIC STRIPS USED TO WRAP NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF WALL-MOUNTED VEGETABLE SLICER IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL AND FABRIC STRIPS AND MAINTAIN ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE.

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 THE FOLLOWING NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT TO BE SOILED: INTERIOR BASINS OF HOT-HOLDING WELL IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH RUST DEBRIS; SIDES AND INTERIOR CAVITY OF PIZZA OVEN AND DEEP FRYERS IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS; INTERIOR CAVITY OF SEVERAL LINE COOLERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL 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 problems
notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FLOOR-MOUNTED PLUMBING AND UTILITY LINES BEHIND AND BENEATH DEEP FRYER AND OVENS IN THE REAR SERVICE AREA TO BE LINED WITH ALUMINUM FOIL AND SOILED FABRIC STRIPS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL AND FABRIC STRIPS AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING AND UTILITY FIXTURES SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE.

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 54Facility maintenance

Official wording

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FACILITY HAS NO CONTRACTED WASTE REMOVAL SERVICE AND NO COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AVAILABLE FOR USE ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LICENSED WASTE REMOVAL SERVICE AND MAINTAIN AT LEAST ONE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER OF ADEQUATE SIZE AND CAPACITY TO REMOVE ALL FOOD WASTE ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR USE AT ALL TIMES OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(B) NO CITATION ISSUED.

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
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED CEILING ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA TO BE IN POOR REPAIR, HEAVY EVIDENCE OF VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND CEILING CRACKED WITH OPEN HOLE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE CEILING ABOVE THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TO ELIMINATE VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND OPEN HOLE AND MAINTAIN ALL PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN GOOD REPAIR.

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 HEAVY BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ON FILTERS AND INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM ABOVE DEEP FRYERS AND OVENS IN THE REAR SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS AND MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM AND FILTERS OF ADEQUATE NUMBER AND CAPACITY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ALONG INTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION SYSTEM AND ADJACENT PHYSICAL FACILITY SURFACES.

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
notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MISSING ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ON-SITE AT TIME OF LICENSE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.

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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 5, 2026 · Original Source

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