What is Habanero's health inspection score?

Habanero has a SafeDine safety score of 83 out of 100 (Grade B). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Habanero last inspected?

Habanero was last inspected on February 18, 2026. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Habanero have?

Habanero has 18 total violations across 5 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Habanero safe to eat at?

Habanero has a good safety record with a score of 83/100. While there are some noted violations, overall compliance is solid.

What type of cuisine does Habanero serve?

Habanero serves American cuisine. Visit their SafeDine page for safety scores, inspection history, and more details.

Official Health Record

Habanero

Name: Habanero
Address: 222 W MERCHANDISE MART PLZ, Chicago, 60654
Rating: 83

222 W MERCHANDISE MART PLZ, Chicago

Last Inspected: 2/18/2026

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0Good

American•River North

Ranked #218 of 551 in River NorthBetter than 22% of american restaurants

Stable

5 inspections

Last: Feb 18, 2026

high confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

Clean Rate

3.6

Avg Violations

4 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Temperature controlHigh Priority

Food not kept at safe temperatures — risk of bacterial growth

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Other violation

Regulatory compliance issue

Facility condition

Building maintenance or structural issues

Food labeling

Food not properly labeled or dated

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-17

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-4 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-7 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-6 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Inspection Timeline

+5 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

How scoring works: Every restaurant starts at 100 points. Points are deducted for violations found during inspections.

Recent inspections are weighted more heavily. High priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact.

Location

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222 W MERCHANDISE MART PLZ, Chicago, IL 60654

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Violation Timeline

Oct 2022

1 inspections

2 basic

Oct

Dec 2023

1 inspections

1 high priority

Jun 2024

1 inspections

1 high priority

1 intermediate

4 basic

Jun

Feb 2025

1 inspections

1 high priority

4 basic

Feb 2026

1 inspections

2 intermediate

2 basic

Feb

Inspection History

5 records on file

5 Canvass

Feb 26

Canvass InspectionLatestPass w/ Conditions

2 Med2 Basic

4 total

86/100inspection score

−14 pts

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

36THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE−5
OBSERVED NO THERMOMETER INSIDE REAR PREP COOLER. MANAGEMENT PROVIDED THERMOMETER DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN THERMOMETERS IN ALL COOLERS CONTAINING TCS ITEMS.
37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF BULK ITEMS SUCH AS RICE AND BEANS NOT LABELLED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL WITH COMMON NAME.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

60PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED−2
OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING REPEAT CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2611931 DATED 2/7/2025: #57 "OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR TWO FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS." #58 "OBSERVED NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS." INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND COME INTO COMPLIANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.
61SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC−2
OBSERVED NO SUMMARY POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW FROM PREVIOUS INSPECTION #2611931 DATED 2/7/2025. LEFT NEW SUMMARY AND INSTRUCTED TO POST FOR PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.

Base deductions−14 pts

Feb 25

Canvass InspectionPass

1 High4 Basic

5 total

82/100inspection score

−18 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE POSTED IN MEN OR WOMEN'S WASHROOMS USED BY EMPLOYEES. INSTRUCTED TO POST CLEARLY VISIBLE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE THAT NOTIFIES FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES.

Basic (4)

−8 pts

55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED MISSING GROUT IN BETWEEN TILES IN FRONT AND MIDDLE PREP AREAS OF FACILITY. OBSERVED MISSING GROUT IN BETWEEN FLOOR TILES IN FRONT PREP AREAS IN FRONT OF COLD HOLDING UNIT AND MIDDLE PREP AREA BETWEEN COLD HOLDING UNIT, THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO REGROUT IN BETWEEN FLOOR TILES THROUGHOUT FACILITY AND MAINTAIN.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
OBSERVED NON WORKING LEFT LIGHT IN HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR NON WORKING LEFT LIGHT IN HOOD TO INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR TWO FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS
58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
OBSERVED NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS.

Base deductions−18 pts

Jun 24

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

1 High1 Med4 Basic

6 total

77/100inspection score

−23 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

33PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL−10
OBSERVED THE REAR LINE COOLER AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE FOR COLD-HOLDING OF TCS FOODS WITH INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF 49.2F. OBSERVED FRONT REACH-IN COOLER AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE FOR COLD HOLDING, PERSON-IN-CHARGE AWARE OF COOLER IN POOR REPAIR AND REMOVED TCS FOODS PRIOR TO INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE TCS FOOD ITEMS AND CEASE USE OF REAR LINE COOLER TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS. PERSON-IN-CHARGE REMOVED ALL TCS FOOD FROM REAR LINE COOLER AT TIME OF INSPECTION. TAGGED REAR LINE AND FRONT REACH-IN COOLERS FOR INSPECTION ON-SITE. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS FOOD ITEMS IN THE REAR LINE COOLER AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES FOR COLD-HOLDING: EGG AT 45.1F, SAUSAGE AT 48.1F, BEEF AT 50.2F. INSTRUCTED TO DENATURE AND DISCARD FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES. PERSON-IN-CHARGE DENATURED AND DISCARDED ALL FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES ON-SITE. APPROXIMATELY 30 LBS. VALUED APPROXIMATELY $75.00 DISCARDED ON-SITE. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Basic (4)

−8 pts

43IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED−2
OBSERVED IN-USE KNIFE STORED IN-BETWEEN COUNTER EQUIPMENT AT THE REAR PREP LINE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE KNIFE FROM BETWEEN EQUIPMENT AND STORE IN-USE UTENSILS ON A CLEAN, SANITIZED SURFACE AND MAINTAIN.
47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL USED TO LINE NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF COOKING AND STORAGE EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL FROM NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES AND MAINTAIN ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES SMOOTH AND EASILY-CLEANABLE.
49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
OBSERVED NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES (INTERIOR CAVITY) OF REAR LINE COOLER TO BE SOILED WITH DUST AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED GAPS BETWEEN TILES ON FLOOR OF FACILITY SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.

Base deductions−23 pts

Dec 23

Canvass InspectionPass

1 High

1 total

90/100inspection score

−10 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

33PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL−10
Improper cooling method for cooked black beans, beans container covered tightly during cooling down, instructed to cover loosely to facilitate cooling down process.

Base deductions−10 pts

Oct 22

Canvass InspectionPass

2 Basic

2 total

96/100inspection score

−4 pts

Basic (2)

−4 pts

55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED BUILD UP OF FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR IN FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST COMPLETE TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Base deductions−4 pts

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Community Safety Reports

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Data source: Chicago CDPH · Official government inspection records

Grading System

85 – 100
Excellent
70 – 84
Good
Below 70
Fair

About SafeDine Scores

Scores are calculated using official government inspection data. High Priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact, followed by Intermediate and Basic violations. Community reviews can adjust the score by up to 5 points when 3+ reviews are submitted.

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