IsTheKitchenClean?
Home·Blog·About·Contact

Inspections by Neighborhood

  • Lincoln Park
  • Lakeview
  • West Loop
  • Gold Coast
  • Old Town
  • Wrigleyville
  • River North
  • Wicker Park
  • Logan Square
  • Bucktown
  • Fulton Market
  • Streeterville
  • The Loop
  • Andersonville
  • Pilsen
  • Hyde Park
  • Chinatown
  • North Side
  • Northwest Side
  • West Side
  • South Loop
  • South Side
  • Southwest Side
  • Far South Side

Inspections by Violation

  • Rodents
  • Roaches
  • Mold
  • Sewage
  • Temperature
  • Chemical
  • Expired Food
  • Sanitation

IsTheKitchenClean displays publicly available food inspection data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Trending rankings and summaries are automated interpretations of that data and are not official health department assessments. Inspection findings reflect conditions at a specific point in time and may not represent current conditions at a restaurant.

Cantina On Madison

Restaurant

69 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603

The Loop

Aug 24, 2026 — Complaint re-inspection

Fail

A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

Severe pest infestation with live rats, 75+ flies, and roaches throughout facility; previous violation not corrected.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Live rat observed under lockers; approximately 75 rat droppings found scattered across basement, dish machine area, and cooler; live roaches on ceiling near mop sink and inside walk-in cooler doorway.
  • Approximately 75 live flies observed flying throughout bar, billiards room, basement, dining room, and bathrooms; soiled wiping cloths at bar had flies crawling on them.
  • No certified food manager on duty while handling time/temperature control for safety foods including rice, beef, beans, and pico de gallo; person in charge lacks required food manager certificate.
  • Food stored directly on floor in basement walk-in cooler; gaps along bottom of north dining room door and basement garbage door allow pest entry; low cold water pressure at handwashing sink in second-floor men's room.

Key findings are derived directly from the inspector's notes from the Chicago Department of Public Health. See the full violation notes below.

Was this report useful? Get an alert when this restaurant fails again, tell people what happened to you, or send the link to someone.

Be specific. Keep it to what you saw or experienced.

Loading discussion...

Violation code #59 — PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED
Inspector's Notes:

: 6-501.111 : PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2641321 8/17/26 NOT CORRECTED #38-STILL OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF APPX. 75 OR MORE LIVE SMALL FLIES FLYING AROUND,ON WALLS AND CEILINGS IN BAR AREA, BILLARDS ROOM,BASEMENT PREP AREA, DINING ROOM,2ND FL. MEN'S TOILET ROOM AND APPX. 75 OR MORE RAT DROPPINGS ON FLOOR IN CORNER OF DISH MACHINE,UNDER AND BEHIND SODA CADDY IN BASEMENT,SCATTERED ON FLOOR UNDER LOCKERS AND A LIVE RAT WAS SEEN UNDER LOCKERS,UNDER UNUSED GLASS SLIDING DOOR COOLER AND IN BETWEEN FOOD PRODUCT AND 10- LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING ON CEILING AND WALL NEAR MOPSINK AND OPENING IN UPPER WALL PANEL OF MOP SINK,ALONG WALL BASE BEHIND ROLLING CART.ALSO,SEVERAL DEAD ROACHES INSIDE OF DOOR WAY OF WALK IN COOLER,ELECTRICAL ROOM AND ON FLOOR UNDER ROLLING CART.MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS & DEAD ROACHES, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS.MUST HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 8/24/26.(PRIORITY 7-42-090)(CITATION ISSUED)

Violation code #1 — PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
Inspector's Notes:

PIC DOESN'T HAVE A FOOD MANAGERS CERTIFICATE MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012)

Inspection History

Cantina On Madison has had 13 inspections in the last 5 years with a 46% pass rate. Last inspection was on Aug 31, 2026.

Aug 31, 2026Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

Standout inspection
Aug 24, 2026FailVIEWING NOW

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

21 violations
Standout inspection
Sep 23, 2025Conditional

Canvass Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

6 violations