Falafel Joint

• resultPass w/ Conditions
• critical violations1
• last inspectedJune 26, 2026
• address6814 W North Ave, Chicago 60707

Is Falafel Joint clean?

Falafel Joint is currently Pass w/ Conditions from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on June 26, 2026. Inspectors wrote up 1 critical violation — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads mid 😬.

What did inspectors find at Falafel Joint?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on June 26, 2026, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 🚰handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
  Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible • OBSERVED NO HAND PAPER TOWELS PROVIDED AT HANDWASHING SINK AT THE FRONT AND REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREAS AND INSIDE THE WASHROOM.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN HAND PAPER TOWELS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C), VIOLATION CONSOLIDATED WITH THE ABOVE CITATION. • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK AT THE REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED THE HANDWASHING SINK AT FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR USE.HAND SINK BEING USED TO STORE DIRTY BAKING SHEET PAN AND MULTI-USE UTENSILS.INSTRUCTED MANAGER, HANDWASHING SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS AT ALL TIMES.MANAGER REMOVED.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030 (C), CITATION ISSUED.
• 🧊cold food not cold enough
  Proper Cold Holding Temperatures • OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF (TCS FOODS) INSIDE OF THE KITCHEN 2-DOOR PREP LINE-COOLER.OBSERVED CHICKEN AT 48.2F,BEEF AT 47.9F,CUT TOMATOES AT 50.1F AND BABAGANOUSH AT 49.8F.MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 10#'S OF FOOD WORTH $120.00.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN ALL COLD (TCS FOODS) AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED.
• 🧫food prep surfaces dirty
  Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment For Temperature Control • OBSERVED THE KITCHEN 2-DOOR PREP LINE COOLER WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 55.5F-60.0F.THE COOLER WAS USED TO STORE (TCS FOODS) HUMMUS,CUT TOMATOES, CHICKEN AND BEEF ETC.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SAID COOLER AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED REFRIGERATION REPAIR SERVICE.THE SAID COOLER IS TAGGED "HELD FOR INSPECTION" AT THIS TIME.INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL REPAIRED.(SEE COMMENTS BELOW). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED.
• ⚠️Approved Thawing Methods Used • FOUND FROZEN BEEF THAWING ON A PREP TABLE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT (TCS FOODS) MUST BE THAWED ACCORDING TO FOOD CODE, SUCH AS UNDER REFRIGERATION THAT MAINTAINS 41F OR COLDER OR UNDER RUNNING WATER (70F OR COLDER).
  Approved Thawing Methods Used • FOUND FROZEN BEEF THAWING ON A PREP TABLE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT (TCS FOODS) MUST BE THAWED ACCORDING TO FOOD CODE, SUCH AS UNDER REFRIGERATION THAT MAINTAINS 41F OR COLDER OR UNDER RUNNING WATER (70F OR COLDER).
• 🌡️thermometers missing
  Thermometers Provided & Accurate • OBSERVED NO THERMOMETER INSIDE THE KITCHEN PREP LINE 2-DOOR COOLER CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED TO MONITOR THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF EQUIPMENT.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AN ACCURATE WORKING THERMOMETER INSIDE ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS.
• ⚠️Personal Cleanliness • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.
  Personal Cleanliness • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAIR RESTRAINTS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.
• 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to code
  Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used • OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE KITCHEN PREP TABLE.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
• 🚿plumbing acting up
  Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN: PREP TABLES (TOPS AND BOTTOMS), KITCHEN STORAGE RACKS, EXTERIOR SURFACES OF DEEP FRYERS AND OTHER COOKING EQUIPMENTS, UNDER GRILLS AND SHELVES INSIDE OF REFRIGERATION UNITS.
• 🧹floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
  Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean • OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND SPILLS ON THE FLOORS AND SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN PREPS/DISHWASHING 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN UNDER ALL SHELVING UNITS, BEHIND-UNDER-AROUND PREP TABLES AND ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE SPILLS, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT BUILDUP.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. • OBSERVED CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS IN REAR STORAGE AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CLUTTER AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE AND MAINTAIN.
• ⚠️Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD SYSTEM TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF EXCESSIVE HANGING GREASE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
  Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD SYSTEM TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF EXCESSIVE HANGING GREASE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
• ⚠️All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES.
  All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES.MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES.
• 🥜allergen training missing
  Allergen Training As Required • OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

When was Falafel Joint last inspected?

Falafel Joint has 7 inspections on record going back to October 14, 2021.

Falafel Joint vs Montclare

Montclare runs 63% clean across 351 tracked restaurants — 220 clean, 63 mid, 65 cooked.

Against the 351 spots Cooked tracks in Montclare, this one comes out cleaner than 59% of them.

Other spots in Montclare

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• ? Ace Sushi @ Jewel Osco 33349
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• ✓! Elotes Guy Super Botanas
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• ✕ Diversey Liquors
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• ✕ Diversey Liquors
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See every restaurant inspection in Montclare →

How Chicago grades restaurants

Chicago does not use letter grades. Every inspection ends in one of three official results: Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail. Pass with Conditions means violations were found but corrected on the spot or under a deadline — the restaurant is open, with homework. A Fail means serious violations went uncorrected, and it usually brings a re-inspection within days. Chicago also flags “priority” violations, the ones most likely to actually make someone sick. Cooked reads Pass as clean, Pass with Conditions as mid, and Fail as cooked, and shows the itemized violations behind each result.

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health via Chicago Data Portal. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated June 26, 2026. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.