What is Vela's health inspection score?

Vela has a SafeDine safety score of 91 out of 100 (Grade A). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Vela last inspected?

Vela was last inspected on November 6, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Vela have?

Vela has 14 total violations across 6 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Vela safe to eat at?

Yes, Vela has an excellent safety record with a score of 91/100. This indicates strong compliance with health and safety standards.

What type of cuisine does Vela serve?

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

Official Health Record

Vela

Name: Vela
Address: 352 W HUBBARD ST, Chicago, 60654
Rating: 91

352 W HUBBARD ST, Chicago

Last inspected 7mo ago

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0Excellent

American•River North

Ranked #88 of 551 in River NorthBetter than 22% of american restaurants

Stable

6 inspections

Last: Nov 6, 2025

medium confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

33%

Clean Rate

2.3

Avg Violations

7 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

Temperature control

Food not kept at safe temperatures — risk of bacterial growth

Unsafe food sourceHigh Priority

Food obtained from unapproved or unsafe source

Pest issues

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Plumbing issues

Plumbing or waste disposal problems

Other violation

Regulatory compliance issue

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-12

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-1 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-6 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-2 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-3 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

-2 pts

Latest

100% weight

100

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

Real-time Score: 88/100 — This score includes today's freshness penalty and may differ slightly from the displayed score (91/100) which is computed during our regular data sync.

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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352 W HUBBARD ST, Chicago, IL 60654

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Violation Timeline

Jun 2024

2 inspections

1 high priority

2 intermediate

4 basic

Jun

Mar 2025

2 inspections

1 high priority

1 intermediate

2 basic

Nov 2025

2 inspections

2 intermediate

1 basic

Nov

Inspection History

6 records on file

2 Complaint1 Canvass1 Non-Inspection1 License Re-Inspection1 License

Nov 25

Complaint InspectionLatestPass w/ Conditions

2 Med1 Basic

3 total

88/100inspection score

−12 pts

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

22PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES−5
OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF (TCS FOODS) INSIDE OF THE KITCHEN 2 DOOR STAND-UP-COOLER.OBSERVED COOKED CHICKEN AT 55.9F, COOKED BEEF AND CHEESE MIX AT 48.6F, COOKED BEANS AT 57.7F. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 6#'S OF FOOD WORTH $50.00.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN ALL COLD (TCS FOODS) AT 41F OR COLDER AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED.
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED REAR EXIT DOUBLE DOORS LEADING TO THE GARBAGE DUMPSTERS WITH GAPS/OPENINGS APPROX 1/4" INCH AT BOTTOM OF DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO MAKE DOORS TIGHT FITTING ALL ACROSS THE BOTTOM TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY AND MAINTAIN.

Basic (1)

−2 pts

57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.

Base deductions−12 pts

Nov 25

Complaint InspectionCleanNo Entry

No violations

100/100inspection score

Mar 25

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

1 High1 Med2 Basic

4 total

81/100inspection score

−19 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

11FOOD OBTAINED FROM APPROVED SOURCE−10
OBSERVED COMMERICALLY PACKAGED FRUIT WITH NO FOOD LABEL. OBSERVED COMMERICALLY PACKAGED GOOSEBERRIES AND CUT UP PINEAPPLES IN SAUCE WITH NO FOOD LABEL. INSTRUCTED COMMERICALLY PACKAGED FOOD SHALL BE LABELED AS SPECIFIED IN LAW. CORRECTED ON SITE COMMERICALLY PACKAGED FOOD VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED(WEIGHT 4LBS/ VALUED $40) BY FACILITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

25CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD−5
OBSERVED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS THAT ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCCOKED, COOKED TO ORDER OR CONTAIN RAW OR UNDERCCOKED INGREDIENTS. CORRECTED ON SITE FACILITY ADDED ASTERISK TO ALL ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ON MENU THAT ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED, COOKED TO ORDER OR CONTAIN RAW OR UNDER COOKED INGREDIENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED

Basic (2)

−4 pts

47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED−2
OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN BAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
OBSERVED STOPPER OF WASH COMPARTMENT LEAKING WHEN COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING STOPPER OF WASH COMPARTMENT OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.

Base deductions−19 pts

Mar 25

Non-Inspection InspectionCleanNo Entry

No violations

100/100inspection score

Jun 24

License Re-Inspection InspectionPass

1 Med2 Basic

3 total

91/100inspection score

−9 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
6-202.15: OBSERVED OPENINGS AT BASE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED−2
6-501.19: OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHELL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
6-304.11: OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION INSTALLED IN WASHROOM AREA(INDIVIDUAL STALLS OR WASHROOM AREA AS A UNIT). INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN WASHROOM AREA.

Base deductions−9 pts

Jun 24

License InspectionFail

1 High1 Med2 Basic

4 total

81/100inspection score

−19 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
OBSERVED TWO MISSING HANDWASHING SINKS IN COMMON AREA OF WASHROOM AREA FOR CONVENIENT USE BY EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WHO USE TWO STALLS WITH NO HANDWASHING SINKS IN INTERIOR OF STALL. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL HANDWASHING SINKS IN COMMON AREA OF WASHROOM FOR CONVENIENT USE BY EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WHO USE TWO STALLS WITH NO HANDWASHING SINKS IN INTERIOR OF STALL. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED OPENINGS AT BASE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED−2
OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHELL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICES ON TWO WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WASHROOM STALL DOORS.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION INSTALLED IN WASHROOM AREA(INDIVIDUAL STALLS OR WASHROOM AREA AS A UNIT). INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN WASHROOM AREA.

Base deductions−19 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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