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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Waffle Lounge

7433 S State St

Last inspected Mar 23, 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

Mar 23, 2026

Pass

2 recorded violations

notedCode 40Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER AT COOKSLINE WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS TO COVER SCALP AND BEARDS WHERE APPLICABLE.

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

OBSERVED MOPS AND BROOMS STORED IN THE CORNER OF UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL RACK FOR HOLDING BROOMS AND MOPS, INVERTING MOP FOR DRYING/STORAGE.

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 23, 2026 · Original Source

License Re-Inspection

Sep 24, 2025

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED RUST DEPOSITS ON SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER, AND RAW WOOD SHELVING IN REAR STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL RUSTY SURFACES AND SEAL ALL RAW WOOD SURFACES ON SHELVING UNITS

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 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOOD AND/OR EQUIPMENT MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER 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 issues
notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN 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 issues
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DUST BUILUDP ON VENTILATION FAN INSIDE STAFF WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER 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, Sep 24, 2025 · Original Source

License

Sep 16, 2025

Fail

9 recorded violations

notedCode 25Food temperature

Official wording

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY AND DISCLOSURE ON MENU. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CONSUMER ADVISORY AND DISCLOSURE ON MENU. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 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 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED OVER 80 MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON FLOOR AND INSIDE CABINETS IN CONTROL PANEL ROOM, ON FLOOR AND DUCT EQUIPMENT IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 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 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED RUST DEPOSITS ON SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER, AND RAW WOOD SHELVING IN REAR STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL RUSTY SURFACES AND SEAL ALL RAW WOOD SURFACES ON SHELVING UNITS.

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 48Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT FOR LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005

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 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN 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 issues
notedCode 54Facility maintenance

Official wording

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO WASTE RECEPTACLES AT HAND WASHING SINKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE WASTE RECEPTACLES IN ALL AREAS WASTE IS COMMONLY DISCARDED.

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 MISSING BASEBOARDS ALONG WALLS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE BASEBOARDS 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 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN WOMEN AND MEN CUSTOMER WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE 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 issues
notedCode 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AVAILABLE. ALL EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOOD AND/OR EQUIPMENT MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER 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 issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Sep 16, 2025 · Original Source

License

Jul 28, 2025

No Entry

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 28, 2025 · Original Source

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