Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1

• resultFail
• critical violations3
• last inspectedMay 16, 2024
• address5341 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago 60632

Is Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1 clean?

Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1 is currently Fail from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on May 16, 2024. Inspectors wrote up 3 critical violations — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads cooked 🪳.

What did inspectors find at Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on May 16, 2024, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 📋no certified food manager on dutycritical
  Person In Charge Present, Demonstrates Knowledge, And Performs Duties • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH FOODSERVICE MANAGER TRAINING.
• 📋certified manager paperwork missingcritical
  City Of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate • OBSERVED NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PIC THAT VALID CERTIFICATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CERTIFIED MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS(CHICKEN, BEANS). ARE PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
• 🚰handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
  Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible • OBSERVED HAND SINKS IN FRONT PREP AREA, REAR PREP AREA, AND BASEMENT PREP AREA NOT ACCESSIBLE. BASIN WAS FILLED WITH UTENSILS AND A PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINER, BLOCKED BY MOP, AND COVERED WITH APRON. INSTRUCTED THAT SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
• ⚠️Approved Thawing Methods Used • OBSERVED RAW MEAT BEING THAWED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ON THE FLOOR IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL THAWING MUST OCCUR UNDER REFRIGERATION OR POTABLE RUNNING COLD WATER AT 70F OR BELOW.
  Approved Thawing Methods Used • OBSERVED RAW MEAT BEING THAWED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ON THE FLOOR IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL THAWING MUST OCCUR UNDER REFRIGERATION OR POTABLE RUNNING COLD WATER AT 70F OR BELOW.
• 🪳pests in the house
  Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present • OBSERVED 1/4 IN GAP ALONG SIDE OF REAR EXTERIOR EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED PEST INFESTATION ON PREMISES. DEAD MICE AND MOUSE DROPPINGS TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT ON SITE THROUGHOUT ENTIRE FACILITY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: REAR PREP, STORAGE CLOSET, FURNACE CLOSET(S), ALONG WALLS AND FLOOR IN BASEMENT PREP AREA, STORAGE ROOMS, AND FURNACE ROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL MOUSE DROPPINGS, SANITIZE ALL AREAS, AND INFORM LICENSED PEST CONTROL SERVICE OF INFESTATION. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED. • OBSERVED RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT WITHOUT A LICENSED PEST CONTROL OPERATOR. ALL RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS SHALL CONTRACT WITH A LICENSED ILLINOIS EXTERMINATOR WHO SHALL PROVIDE INSECT AND VERMIN SERVICES AT THE ESTABLISHMENT AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. A LOGBOOK SHALL BE KEPT FOR TWELVE (12) MONTHS AND INCLUDE A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPORTS AND THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY’S ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC (IDPH) HEALTH LICENSE NUMBER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(C). CITATION ISSUE. • OBSERVED DEAD MICE ON TRAPS IN THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL DEAD RODENTS AND MAINTAIN PREMISES.
• ⚠️Single-Use/Single-Service Articles: Properly Stored & Used • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE UTENSILS and COOKING EQUIPMENT IMPROPERLY STORED IN FURNACE ROOM AND MOP SINK ROOM. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND PROPERLY STORE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.
  Single-Use/Single-Service Articles: Properly Stored & Used • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE UTENSILS and COOKING EQUIPMENT IMPROPERLY STORED IN FURNACE ROOM AND MOP SINK ROOM. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND PROPERLY STORE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.
• 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to code
  Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used • OBSERVED CARDBOARD FOIL AND ELECTRICAL TAPE USED ON SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEAN SURFACES. • OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK STOPPERS MISSING AT ALL SINKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINKS.
• ⚠️Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips • OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS AND IN-USE COOKING EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS (POTS, PANS, RICE COOKER BASIN ETC.) TOO LARGE FOR 3-COMPARTMENT WAREWASHING SINK. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE SINK COMPARTMENTS SHALL BE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE IMMERSION OF THE LARGEST EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. IF SAID EQUIPMENT OR UTENSILS ARE TOO LARGE FOR WAREWASHING SINK, A WAREWASHING MACHINE OR ALTERNATIVE EQUIPMENT MUST BE PROVIDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
  Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips • OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS AND IN-USE COOKING EQUIPMENT/UTENSILS (POTS, PANS, RICE COOKER BASIN ETC.) TOO LARGE FOR 3-COMPARTMENT WAREWASHING SINK. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE SINK COMPARTMENTS SHALL BE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE IMMERSION OF THE LARGEST EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. IF SAID EQUIPMENT OR UTENSILS ARE TOO LARGE FOR WAREWASHING SINK, A WAREWASHING MACHINE OR ALTERNATIVE EQUIPMENT MUST BE PROVIDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
• 🚿plumbing acting up
  Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean • OBSERVED RUST AND RESIDUE BUILD UP ON TABLES AND EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
• ⚠️Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT RESTROOM FOR UNISEX USE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A COVERED RECEPTACLE AND MAINTAIN IT AT ALL TIMES.
  Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT RESTROOM FOR UNISEX USE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A COVERED RECEPTACLE AND MAINTAIN IT AT ALL TIMES.
• 🧹floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
  Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean • OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILINGS AND WALLS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: BASEMENT RESTROOM CEILING, BASEMENT WALLS, AND WALLS IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR ALL AREAS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE AND MAINTENANCE. • OBSERVED ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR DRY STORAGE ROOM. OBSERVED ALL ITEMS IN OUTSIDE WALK-IN COOLER STORED ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE SHELVING AND ORGANIZE AND MAINTAIN ALL ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR AT ALL TIMES.
• ⚠️Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF GREASE AND GRIME ON FILTERS IN HOOD SYSTEM IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF GREASE AND GRIME ON FILTERS IN HOOD SYSTEM IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

When was Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1 last inspected?

Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1 has 34 inspections on record going back to December 1, 2010. The 12 most recent are shown below.

Manolos Tamales, Inc. #1 vs Gage Park

Gage Park runs 71% clean across 393 tracked restaurants — 278 clean, 70 mid, 42 cooked.

Against the 393 spots Cooked tracks in Gage Park, this one comes out cleaner than 8% of them.

Other spots in Gage Park

• ✓ Juanita's Mexican Food
  clean · July 15, 2026
• ✓ Walgreens #05234
  clean · June 30, 2020
• ✓! La Altena
  mid · October 29, 2013
• ✓ Paleteria El Sabar De Michoacan
  clean · December 18, 2025
• ✓ Birrieria Y Taqueria Lopez
  clean · February 27, 2026
• ✓ Chocolate
  clean · March 22, 2011

See every restaurant inspection in Gage Park →

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 May 16, 2024. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.