Food Safety Report: Jerk Yard, 1310 E 53rd St, Chicago, Il, USA.

Chicago, 60615 Illinois, United States

Report date: Jan 7, 2026
1. Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
- comments: observed no person in charge with valid chicago food sanitation certificate.

2. City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
- comments: observed no certified food manager on duty while foods are being prepared, handled and served such as (chicken, rice, beans, fish, and shrimp) must be on site at all times. Priority foundation 7-38-012. Citation issued.

3. Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
- comments: observed blank copies of employee health policy on site. Instructed facility to maintain policy with verifiable signed copies on site for all food employees in acknowledgment of reporting agreement. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010.

22. Proper cold holding temperatures
- comments: observed tcs foods held at improper internal temperatures in the front prep cold holding unit, such as 30lbs of oxtails at 62. 2f and 20lbs of chicken at 63. 3f. Manager discarded and denatured a total 60lbs at $300. All cold tcs food must maintain 41f or below. Priority violation. Citation issued 7-38-005.

33. Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
- comments: observed facility equipment for cold holding in disrepair. Noted walk in cooler to be at improper temperature at 64f. Informed person in charge to repair or replace for proper cold holding of 41 degrees f or below. Tagged unit. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.

38. Insects, rodents, & animals not present
- comments: observed over 75 mice droppings scattered on shelves under front counter, on floor along walls and corners, behind cooking equipment, sinks, water heater in prep and storage areas. Advised manager to call an exterminator for service, clean and sanitize all areas. Priority foundation 7-38-020(a) citation issued

47. Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
- comments: observed milk crates being used as shelving throughout the prep and storage areas. Must remove and provide shelving that is 6" off the floor and provides floor accessibility to ensure adequate facility cleaning.

49. Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
- comments: observed grease buildup on cooking equipment, walls, surrounding floors and shelving units in the kitchen/prep areas. Observed an excessiveamount of debris on the floor/walls/ceiling of the walk in freezer and cooler. Must remove excess ice, detail clean, degrease sanitze and maintain.

55. Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
- comments: observed grease buildup, food debris, and dirt on floor under cooking equipment, along walls and in all corners in prep, dish washing, storage and basement areas. Instructed manager to clean floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in all areas. Observed dust buildup on fan in walk-in cooler, light shields in cooking area and ceiling and wall vents in prep and storage areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain all fans, light shields and ceiling/wall vents.

60. Previous core violation corrected
- comments: previous core violations not corrected in specified time frame previous core violation from report 2623432 on 9/8/2025 were not corrected: 40 2-402. 11: observed food handlers not wearing hair restraints. All food handlers must wear effective hair restraints. 57 2-102. 13: observed missing food handler training. All employees handling food and equipment must provide food handler training. 58 2-102. 13: observed no allergen training for certified manager. All certified managers must provide allergen training. Priority foundation 7-42-090. Citation issued.

Source: chicago.gov