Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Masters Pancake House

5265 S Cicero Ave

Last inspected Oct 23, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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More Issues RecentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

Quick Answers

When was Masters Pancake House last inspected?: The most recent inspection on record was on Oct 23, 2026. The result listed by Chicago Department of Public Health was “Pass”.
Were any violations recorded at the last inspection?: Yes: 5 violations recorded. Each one is listed below with the official wording.
How many inspections are on record?: 4 inspections on record, from May 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026.
Has Masters Pancake House ever been closed by the health department?: No closure appears in the 4 inspection records we hold for this business. The earliest is dated May 1, 2024.

The Full Inspection History

4 inspections

Canvass

Oct 23, 2026

Pass

5 recorded violations

notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED WHITE CALCIUM LIKE BUILD UP ON DOOR OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED FOOD GRIME AND DEBRIS ON INTERIORS OF ALL COLD HOLD UNITS AND FREEZERS IN KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED HOLE ON SIDE OF WALK IN COOLER AT BACK OF WALL. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLOSE AND SEAL MAINTAINING SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 56Facility maintenance

Official Wording

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED FAN IN WALK IN COOLER WITH DUST AND DEBRIS ON COVER. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

In Plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues

notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official Wording

Allergen training as required

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY ALLERGENT CERTIFICATE TO BE EXPIRED. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN UPDATED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE AND RETAIN ON SITE FOR REVIEW.

In Plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Oct 23, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Jul 29, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

3 recorded violations

notedCode 22Food temperature

Official Wording

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s Notes

TCS FOOD AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES IN PREP COOLER: HAM 49.9F, SAUSAGE 50.2F, CUT TOMATOES 49.0F. ALL DISCARDED AND DENATURED. INSTD TO MAINTAIN COLD FOODS AT 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIME. APPROX 15LBS $50 VALUE CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY

In Plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode 33Food temperature

Official Wording

PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Inspector’s Notes

PREP COOLER AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 52.9F. COOLER TAGGED AT THIS TIME AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. INSTD NOT TO USE UNTIL REPAIRED AND AT PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005 PRIORITY

In Plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN WAREWASHING AREA CAUSING STANDING WATER. INSTD TO REPLACE BROKEN TILES AND MAINTAIN

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 29, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass Re-Inspection

May 9, 2024

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

4-602.13 OBSERVED RUST BUILD UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE WHERE CHEMICALS ARE STORED. OBSERVED BUILD-UP ON SHELVES IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SURFACES FREE OF RESIDUE.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

6-501.114 OBSERVED CLUTTER IN THE FURNACE ROOM ON THE FLOOR AND STACKED UP. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND ORGANIZE AREA TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official Wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s Notes

2-102.13 OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PIC AT TIME OF INSPECTION TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

In Plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, May 9, 2024 · Original Source

Canvass

May 1, 2024

Fail

4 recorded violations

notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED A PINK MOLD-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE DRIPPING ONTO ICE(ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO DISCARD ICE AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE MACHINE. PRIORITY FOUNDAITON #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED CLUTTER IN THE FURNACE ROOM ON THE FLOOR AND STACKED UP. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE AND ORGANIZE AREA TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official Wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PIC AT TIME OF INSPECTION TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

In Plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED RUST BUILD UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE WHERE CHEMICALS ARE STORED. OBSERVED BUILD-UP ON SHELVES IN WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SURFACES FREE OF RESIDUE.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, May 1, 2024 · Original Source