Before you dine, check the sign.

JOE'S BARBEQ AND FISH #1

4809-11 W MADISON ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60644

Health Inspection: violations

Official health department data. Inspected 2024-08-27; refreshed 2026-10-11. May lag the official record. Check the official source

15 findings at the latest imported inspection (2024-08-27), including 1 critical violations. These dated findings do not mean the establishment failed overall or that issues remain unresolved.

Inspection history and recorded findings

2024-08-27: Complaint

Fail

  • Not Critical: CHI-38 — INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED LARGE DEAD RATS IN UTILITY STORAGE CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
  • Not Critical: CHI-2 — CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WITH VALID ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE WHILE PREPARING AND SERVING RIBS, CHICKEN, GIZZARDS, SAUSAGES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-10 — ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED MULTIPLE HANDSINKS WITHOUT HAND CLEANSER THROUGHOUT IN USE PREP AREAS DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FOR PROPER HANDWASHING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. # 7-38-030 (c). CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-10 — ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED NO HAND DRYING PROVISIONS AVAILABLE AT MULTIPLE HANDSINKS THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS AS REQUIRED FOR PROPER HANDWASHING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-030 (c). SEE ABOVE VIOLATION FOR CITATION ISSUED.
  • Critical: CHI-21 — PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 20 LBS COOKED CHICKEN PARTS LOCATED IN HOT HOLD UNIT IN FRONT PREP AREA AS WELL AS IN FRYER BASKETS. NOTED TEMPERATURE RANGING BETWEEN 90-100F. INSTRUCTED TO HOLD ALL HOT TCS FOODS @135F OR HIGHER AT ALL TIMES AND MAINTAIN.PERSON IN CHARGE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED SAID FOOD ITEMS AT THIS TIME. TOTAL $150.PRIORITY VIOLATION. #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-23 — PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION - Comments: OBSERVED COOKED TCS FOODS STORED IN COOLING UNITS FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS WITHOUT PROPER LABELING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-36 — THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE - Comments: NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER ON SITE FOR TESTING INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF FOOD. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-38 — INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISE DURING THE TIME OF INSPECTION. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 100 SMALL AND LARGE LIVE BLACK FLIES FLYING THROUGHOUT THE FRONT AND REAR PREP AREA, INSIDE TOILET ROOM, AND REAR STORAGE. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 90 LARGE RAT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT REAR STORAGE HALLWAY SCATTERED UNDERNEATH STORAGE SHELVING UNITS, IN REAR PREP BEHIND COOLING UNITS, UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND ALL HEAVY UNITS IN FRONT PREP AND AROUND SMOKER SCATTERD. INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT PEST CONTROL FOR SERVICE, REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN AND SANITIZE. MUST ELIMINATE FLY AND RODENT ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020 (A). CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-47 — FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARD ON MAIN COOK LINE COVERED WITH DEEP GROOVES AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH, CLEANABLE SURFACES.
  • Not Critical: CHI-48 — WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS - Comments: OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE ON THE PREMISE FOR SANITIZING AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-49 — NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, PREP TABLES, FREEZERS, SHELVING UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  • Not Critical: CHI-50 — HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE - Comments: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER ON THE PREMISES DURING THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION. NOTED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK TEMPERATURE @70F. ALL HANDS RANGE BETWEEN 60-70F. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HOT WATER AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AT LEAST 110-120F AND MAINTAIN WHILE OPEN AND OPERATING. #7-38-030 (c). CITATION ISSUED.
  • Not Critical: CHI-55 — PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED CHIPPING PAINT ON WALLS THROUGHOUT THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN EASILY CLEAN SURFACES.
  • Not Critical: CHI-57 — ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments: OBSERVED STAFF WITH NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
  • Not Critical: CHI-58 — ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED - Comments: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN.

Inspection results are separate from diner opinions. Favorable overall ratings do not negate individual findings.

Diner reviews