Health Inspection Report
SUBWAY in CHICAGO, IL Failed Its Health Inspection on 04/07/23
CHICAGO, IL
Published: August 21, 2025
CHICAGO, IL - SUBWAY received citations for health code violations during an inspection on 04/07/2023.
The facility operates from 400 N ORLEANS ST in River North, an area known for its diverse dining options. Health inspections in this district help ensure consistent food safety standards.
The inspection identified 4 distinct violations requiring correction. Each violation has established correction procedures that must be followed to achieve compliance.
The first violation concerned temperature control. Inspectors documented: Thermometers Provided & Accurate - Comments: Thermometers Is Not Provided in All Cold Holding Units. Cold/hot Holding Equipment Used for Time/temperature Control for Safety Shall Have at Least One Thermometer in an Easily Viewed Location.. The FDA Food Code requires cold foods to be held at 41°F or below and hot foods at 135°F or above to prevent bacterial growth in the "danger zone." For more information, see FDA guidelines on temperature control. The CDC reports that temperature abuse is a factor in many foodborne illness outbreaks.
The second violation involved pest prevention. Inspectors documented: Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display - Comments: Dry Storage Items Stored on the Floor Outside of Restroom. Items Must Be at Least 6 Inches Above the Floor.. The FDA Food Code requires establishments to eliminate conditions that attract and harbor pests, including proper waste management and facility maintenance. For more information, see FDA pest control standards. Pest droppings and debris can trigger allergic reactions and asthma in sensitive individuals.
The third violation concerned pest prevention. Inspectors documented: Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display - Comments: Dry Storage Items Is Stored in an Unapproved Location in Restroom. Food May Not Be Stored In: 1) Locker Rooms 2) Toilet Rooms 3) Dressing Rooms 4) Garbage Rooms 5) Mechanical Rooms 6) Under Non Shielded Sewer Lines 7) Under Leaking Water Lines 8) Under Open Stairwells 9) Under Other Sources of Contamination.. The FDA Food Code requires establishments to eliminate conditions that attract and harbor pests, including proper waste management and facility maintenance. For more information, see FDA pest control standards. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas.
The fourth violation related to handwashing procedures. Inspectors documented: Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled - Comments: Clean Dishware Stored on Wire Rack Shelves Above the 3compartment Sink Have Not Been Air Dried Properly After Sanitizing. After. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. Inadequate handwashing can transmit Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and other pathogens directly to food.
Establishments receiving violations must submit correction plans and may face additional inspections. Failure to address violations can result in fines, permit suspension, or closure.
This inspection data is provided by Chicago Department of Public Health. The establishment had violations identified during the 04/07/2023 inspection. Conditions may have changed since this inspection. For current compliance status, consult the Chicago Department of Public Health. For more information about restaurant inspection regulations in this area, visit the Chicago Food Service Sanitation Rules. Learn more about food safety at FDA.gov and CDC.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was this inspection conducted?
This inspection was conducted on August 21, 2025.
Who conducted this inspection?
Chicago Department of Public Health
What violations were found during this inspection?
The following violations were documented: PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.; CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.; PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 45.1-51.8F(PROVOLONE CHEESE 51.8F, PEPPER JACK CHEESE 45.1F, SHREDDED CHICKEN 49.6F, BUFFALO CHICKEN 46.9F AND TERIYAKI CHICKEN 45.5F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $80 WEIGHING 2LBS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED; PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED DRAIN PIPE OF HANDWASHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA LEAKING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPE OF FRONT PREP HANDWASHING SINK. OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET OF HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING FAUCET ON HANDWASHING SINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED HOLE IN LOWER WALL TO THE RIGHT OF FRONT PREP HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR LOWER WALL TO THE RIGHT OF FRONT PREP HANDWASHING SINK. OBSERVED HOLE IN RIGHT LOWER WALL OUTSIDE DOOR LEADING FROM DINING ROOM INTO PREP/DISHWASHING AREA KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR HOLE IN RIGHT LOWER WALL OUTSIDE DOOR LEADING FROM DINING ROOM INTO PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOORS UNDERNEATH HOT HOLDING EQUIPMENT IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDERNEATH HOT HOLDING EQUIPMENT IN FRONT PREP AREA.; PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2573846 DATED 04/07/2023 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATIONS NOT PROVIDED ON SITE. FACILITY MUST ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES OBTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATION.; THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE - Comments: THERMOMETERS IS NOT PROVIDED IN ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS. COLD/HOT HOLDING EQUIPMENT USED FOR TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE THERMOMETER IN AN EASILY VIEWED LOCATION.; CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY - Comments: DRY STORAGE ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OUTSIDE OF RESTROOM. ITEMS MUST BE AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR.; CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY - Comments: DRY STORAGE ITEMS IS STORED IN AN UNAPPROVED LOCATION IN RESTROOM. FOOD MAY NOT BE STORED IN: 1) LOCKER ROOMS 2) TOILET ROOMS 3) DRESSING ROOMS 4) GARBAGE ROOMS 5) MECHANICAL ROOMS 6) UNDER NON SHIELDED SEWER LINES 7) UNDER LEAKING WATER LINES 8) UNDER OPEN STAIRWELLS 9) UNDER OTHER SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: CLEAN DISHWARE STORED ON WIRE RACK SHELVES ABOVE THE 3COMPARTMENT SINK HAVE NOT BEEN AIR DRIED PROPERLY AFTER SANITIZING. AFTER CLEANING AND SANITZING ALL EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS SHALL BE AIR DRIED BEFORE USE. CLOTH DRYING OF EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS IS NOT APPROVED.; ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments: FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATIONS NOT PROVIDED ON SITE. FACILITY MUST ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES OBTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATION..
Why are these violations concerning?
The CDC reports that temperature abuse is a factor in many foodborne illness outbreaks. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas. Inadequate handwashing can transmit Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and other pathogens directly to food.