I Dream Of Falafel/Salt

• resultPass w/ Conditions
• critical violations3
• last inspectedMarch 24, 2026
• address851 W Belmont Ave, Chicago 60657

Is I Dream Of Falafel/Salt clean?

I Dream Of Falafel/Salt is currently Pass w/ Conditions from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on March 24, 2026. Inspectors wrote up 3 critical violations — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads mid 😬.

What did inspectors find at I Dream Of Falafel/Salt?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on March 24, 2026, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 📋certified manager paperwork missingcritical
  City Of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE AT START TIME OF INSPECTION WHILE CHICKEN, BEEF AND OTHER TCS FOOD ITMES WERE BEING COOKED. THE DESIGNATED PERSON IN CHARGE, WHO IS PHYSICALLY ON SITE, MUST OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION LICENSE. VIOLATION CORRECTED ON SITE; THE CERTIFIED CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER, EDGAR JARA, ARRIVED ON SITE APPROX AT END OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED
• 🧼hand hygiene slippingcritical
  Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, Or Tobacco Use • OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEE EATING AND PLACING THAT SAID FOOD ON PREP TABLE IN THE PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT EMPLOYEES MUST CONSUME BEVERAGES/FOOD IN DESIGNATED AREAS OR PUT A LID ON CUP TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, ETC.
• 🚰handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
  Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible • OBSERVED HANDSINK IN PREP AREA NOT STOCKED WITH HAND SOAP. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT HAND SOAP MUST BE AVAILABLE AT HANDSINKS AT ALL TIMES. FOOD HANDLER OBTAINED HAND SOAP FOR HAND SINK DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
• 🧊cold food not cold enough
  Proper Cold Holding Temperatures • OBSERVED TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (VARIETY OF CHICKEN, SLICED TOMATOES, VAREITY OF CHEESECAKE) AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 48.6F-50.7F LOCATED IN DISPLAY COOLER, AND COLD HOLDING UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND DENATURE ALL SAID TCS FOODS AND TO MAINTAIN A COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION.7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
• 🧪toxic chemicals mishandled
  Compliance With Variance/Specialized Process/Haccp • OBSERVED FACILITY NOT MEETING COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS; FACILITY IN (ROP) REDUCE OXYGEN PACKAGING IN PREP KITCHEN AREA. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE OF REQUIREMENTS AND FACILITY MUST MEET AND MAINTAIN. TWO ROP UNITS TAGGED ROP FOOD PRODUCTS DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
• ⚠️Variance Obtained For Specialized Processing Methods • OBSERVED FACILITY NOT MEETING VARIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MODIFIED (ROP) PACKAGING PERFORMED IN FACILITY.NO HACCP ON SITE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR PROCEDURE PREFORMED IN FACILITY. INFORMED FACILITY OF REQUIREMENTS MUST MEET AND MAINTAIN. CITATION CONSOLIDATED WITH #29.
  Variance Obtained For Specialized Processing Methods • OBSERVED FACILITY NOT MEETING VARIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MODIFIED (ROP) PACKAGING PERFORMED IN FACILITY.NO HACCP ON SITE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR PROCEDURE PREFORMED IN FACILITY. INFORMED FACILITY OF REQUIREMENTS MUST MEET AND MAINTAIN. CITATION CONSOLIDATED WITH #29.
• 🧫food prep surfaces dirty
  Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment For Temperature Control • NOTED IMPROPER COLD-HOLD TEMPERATURE OF 50F AT DISPLAY CASES. INFORMED ALL REFRIGERATOR UNITS SHALL MAINTAIN A PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 41F AND BELOW. REFRIGERATOR UNIT MUST NOT BE USED UNTIL REINSPECTED BY CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (CDPH). PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
• 🪳pests in the house
  Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present • OBSERVED A PROHIBITED ANIMAL (DOG) ON SITE IN THE FACILITY OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER GAVE CUSTOMER A CUP WITH WATER TO GIVE TO DOG IN DINING ROOM. PERSON IN CHARGE WAS MADE AWARE THAT SUCH ANIMALS ARE PROHIBITED FROM FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ANIMAL FROM THE FACILITY AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. DOG WAS REMOVED DURING INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-40-060. CITATION ISSUED.
• ⚠️Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display • OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
  Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display • OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
• 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to code
  Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used • OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON FOOD PREP EQUIPMENT AND TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE. • OBSERVED RAW WOOD SHELVES, SURFACES, AND FIXTURES NEAR AND BEHIND THE FRONT COUNTER AREA. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OR PAINT TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. • OBSERVED RUSTED/ DUST ENCRUSTED STORAGE RACKS IN WALK-IN COOLER, SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN • OBSERVED COMMERCIAL CAN OPENER ENCRUSTED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND OR REPLACE BLADE
• 🚿plumbing acting up
  Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean • OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS ENCRUSTED WITH FOOD DEBRIS IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN.
• 🚻bathroom / plumbing issues
  Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices • OBSERVED HAND SINK INSIDE (DRIP DESSERT LOUNGE) SPRAYING FROM SIDE OF FAUCETS, NOTED HAND SINK IN REAR PREP NEAR 1 COMP SINK IS ALSO LEAKING FROM DRAINING PIPES.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
• 🧹floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
  Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean • OBSERVED CLUTTER STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. • OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND SPILLS ON THE FLOORS AND SURFACES AND WINDOW LEDGES IN (DRIP DESSERT LOUNGE) AND THROUGHOUT THE SHARED KITCHEN PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN UNDER ALL SHELVING UNITS, INTERIOR OF PREP COOLERS, HOT-HOLDING UNITS, PREP TABLES AND DEEP FRYERS TO REMOVE SPILLS, FOOD DEBRIS, DIRT BUILDUP AND/OR GREASE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. • OBSERVED MISSING AND DAMAGED WALL TILE BY GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
• ⚠️All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training • OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
  All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training • OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.

When was I Dream Of Falafel/Salt last inspected?

I Dream Of Falafel/Salt has 23 inspections on record going back to July 8, 2014. The 12 most recent are shown below.

I Dream Of Falafel/Salt vs Lake View

Lake View runs 68% clean across 2,211 tracked restaurants — 1,492 clean, 440 mid, 272 cooked.

Against the 2,211 spots Cooked tracks in Lake View, this one comes out cleaner than 50% of them.

Other spots in Lake View

• ✓ Paired
  clean · June 11, 2015
• ✓ Stellar Wine Company
  clean · October 23, 2014
• ✓ Stellar Wine Company
  cooked · October 23, 2014
• ✓ Bar Cocina
  clean · July 8, 2025
• ✓ Bar Cocina
  clean · May 6, 2015
• ✓ Bethlehem Pita & Grill
  cooked · February 8, 2016

See every restaurant inspection in Lake View →

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 March 24, 2026. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.