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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Rubi's

1316 W 18th St

Last inspected Jun 26, 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

4 inspections

Canvass

Jun 26, 2026

Pass

2 recorded violations

notedCode 43Equipment and utensils

Official wording

IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

Inspector’s notes

KNIVES NOT BEING USED MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN HOLDER NOT BETWEEN WALL AND HOLDER. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN

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 issues
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

WALLS AND AIR VENTS IN PREP AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE ALL DUST AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN 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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jun 26, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

May 29, 2025

Pass

7 recorded violations

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

FRONT WINDOWS REMOVED AND HAS NO SCREENS TO SHIELD AGAINST INSECTS/PESTS. INSTRUCTED TO EITHER LEAVE WINDOWS IN OR PROVIDE A SCREEN. MAINTAIN SAME.

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 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

FOOD AND DIRT BUILD UP ON THE STORAGE RACKS INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN STORAGE RACKS. -FAN COVERS INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER WITH DIRT/DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FAN COVERS.

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

THE HOT WATER KNOB ON THE LEFT FAUCET ON THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LEAKS. INSTRUCTED TO FIX LEAK AND MAINTAIN GOOD PLUMBING.

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

FLOORS IN THE BASEMENT WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.

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

THE FILTERS ON THE VENTILATION HOOD WITH DIRT/DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FILTERS.

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 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE WITH NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL FOOD HANDLERS OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE.

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 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

CFM DOES NOT HAVE A CURRENT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE.

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, May 29, 2025 · Original Source

License Re-Inspection

Mar 29, 2024

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-201.11 OBSERVED A BRICK WALL SURFACE BEHIND THE BAR AND INTO THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL BRICK WALL; ALL SURFACES IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS MUST BE 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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 29, 2024 · Original Source

License

Mar 22, 2024

Fail

5 recorded violations

notedCode 22Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

3-501.16(A:2&B) OBSERVED TCS FOOD AT AN INADEQUATE COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE; OBSERVED ABOUT 1 LB OF DICED TOMATOES BEING STORED IN THE FOOD PREP AREA AT AN INADEQUATE COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 58F DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND DENATURE. ALL TCS FOODS MUST BE STORED IN MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION AND MAINTAINED AT AN ADEQUATE COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. THE MANAGER DISCARDED SAID TCS FOOD DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.

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 temperature
notedCode 6Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

Inspector’s notes

2-401.11 OBSERVED MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES DRINKING THEIR DRINKS IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A DESIGNATED SPACE FOR EMPLOYEES TO DRINK PERSONAL DRINKS AND NOT ALLOW PERSONAL DRINKS TO BE CONSUMED IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS.

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 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

6-501.111 OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON SITE. OBSERVED ABOUT 5 RODENT DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR IN BETWEEN THE BLAST CHILLER AND THE UTILITY SINK, OBSERVED ABOUT 5 RODENT DROPPINGS ALONG THE WALL UNDER THE DRY STORAGE SHELF, AND ABOUT 5 RODENT DROPPINGS LOCATED BETWEEN THE WALL AND THE REACH IN THE FREEZER. ALL SAID AREAS LOCATED IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. OBSERVED ABOUT 20 RODENT DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR LOCATED ALONG THE WALLS UNDER THE BAR/CUSTOMER SERVING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE RODENT ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS, AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(A).

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

2-402.11 OBSERVED MALE FOOD HANDLERS WITH BEARDS AND WITHOUT BEARD GUARDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

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 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-201.11 OBSERVED A BRICK WALL SURFACE BEHIND THE BAR AND INTO THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL BRICK WALL; ALL SURFACES IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS MUST BE 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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 22, 2024 · Original Source

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