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Notable findings · official public data
HALL OF SHAME.
Some of the more notable violations turned up in recent Chicago health inspections, straight from the City of Chicago’s own records. Restaurant names are withheld for now.
████████████FAIL
OBSERVED A PEST INFESTATION OF LIVE INSECTS AND EVIDENCE OF RODENT ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES. OBSERVED 15 LIVE COCKROACHES IN BOTH FOOD PREP AREAS AND DRY STORAGE AREAS IN AND UNDER STORAGE SHELVES, ON PAPER AND TAKEOUT GOODS, ON THE BACK OF THE CUTTING BOARD STORED AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK, AND INSIDE OF THE DEEP FRYER DOOR. ALSO OBSERVED APPROX. 15 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE WALLS, STORAGE CABINETS AND FLYING AROUND THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND ABOVE SPICES IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. ALSO OBSERVED APPROX. 200 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT AND OUTLET BEHIND THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA, BREAK/OFFICE AREA, ON THE FLOOR AND ON PALLETS AND ROLLING CARTS USED AS STORAGE AND ELEVATION FOR FREEZERS, INSIDE OF THE FREEZER MOTOR HOUSING UNITS, ON THE FLOOR OF THE WASHROOMS AND REAR STORAGE AREA. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS REQUIRED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES AND ELIMINATE LIVE INSECT ACTIVITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
priority violation
████████████PASS
OBSERVED OVER 300 DEAD SMALL BLACK FLIES THROUGH OUT STORAGE ON FOOD CONTAINERS, FLOOR AND PAPER GOODS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DEAD PESTS AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE
core violation
████████████FAIL
One of the most severe pest citations currently on file.
6-501.111 FOUND PEST INFESTATION. OBSERVED APPROX 800 MOUSE DROPPINGS AND 100 RAT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. OBSERVED 5 LIVE MICE ON SITE.OBSERVED MOUSE DROPPINGS LOCATED IN FROZEN MEAT, FLOUR, CORN STARCH, AND PALETTES OF FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DROPPINGS, CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN SAID AREA. MUST DISCARD ALL CONTAMINATED FOOD ITEMS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
priority violation
████████████FAIL
OBSERVED DEAD MICE ON TRAPS IN THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE ALL DEAD RODENTS AND MAINTAIN PREMISES.
core violation
████████████CONDITIONAL
A repeat citation -- inspectors had flagged the same issue the week prior.
PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM FEBRUARY 19, 2026 AS INSTRUCTED. #38 EVIDENCE OF MICE ON PREMISES. 80 OR MORE RODENT DROPPINGS FOUND IN CLOSET NEXT TO WASHROOM; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE DROPPINGS. PRIORITY VIOLATION CITATION 7-42-090 ISSUED FOR VIOLATION PENALTY. DROPPINGS REMOVED AT ONCE. CORRECTED ON SITE.
priority violation
████████████FAIL
OBSERVED LIVE 2 MICE IN BASMENT DISH/STORAGE AREAS NEAR WATER HEATER CLOSET. AS WELL AS EVIDENCE OF RODENT ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASMENT STORAGE AREA THAT IS CLOSED WITH FENCE AND UNDER AND AROUND STORAGE RACKS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED. MUST ELIMINATE ALL PEST ACTIVITY, WASH AND SANITIZE SURFACES. HAVE PREMISES SERVICED BY PEST CONTROL OPERATOR.PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A).
priority violation
████████████CONDITIONAL
The ice from this machine is used in drinks.
OBSERVED ICE MACHINE LOCATED NEAR THE FRONTLINE WITH A BUILD-UP OF BLACK DIRT/SLIME SUBSTANCE OVER THE ICE CUBES STORED BELOW IN ICE BIN. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE THEN CLEAN AND SANITIZE THE INTERIOR OF THE BIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED
priority violation
████████████CONDITIONAL
A self-serve ice machine in the dining area.
OBSERVED SELF-SERVE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN DINING AREA WITH A BUILD-UP OF BLACK SLIME SUBSTANCE, CONTAMINATING ICE AS IT IS RETREIVED FORM MACHINE. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005.CITATION ISSUED
priority violation
████████████CONDITIONAL
OBSERVED IMPROPER CONVEYING OF SEWAGE IN THE REAR FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. WHEN THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND HANDWASHING SINK IS USE SEWAGE BACKS UP FROM THE FLOOR DRAIN NEAR THE COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDER THE VENTILATION HOOD AND POOLS ON THE PREP AREA FLOOR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE, MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C), CITATION ISSUED
priority violation
████████████CONDITIONAL
HOLE IN CEILING IN PREP AREA. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
core violation
████████████FAIL
OBSERVED LARGE DEAD RATS IN UTILITY STORAGE CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
core violation
████████████PASS
A well-known national bakery chain's Chicago location.
6-501.111 Inspector Comments: STILL OBSERVED AN INFESTATION OF APPX. 16 OR MORE LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING IN BETWEEN CRACKS AND CREVICES IN GAPS OF WALL VOID AT CORNERS OF FRONT CABINETS ON RIGHT SIDES,WALL VOID NEXT TO HAND WASHING SINK IN PREP AREA 1ST FL,UNDER SIDE OF 3- COMPARTMENT SINK AND UPPER WALL NEXT TO STORAGE SHELF,BASEMENT PREP AREA LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING INSIDE PANEL OF REACH IN FREEZER,AND A FEW DEAD ROACHES INSIDE OF CABINETS IN SAME MENTIONED AREAS, .ALSO,APPX. 25 OR MORE LIVE SMALL FLIES FLYING AROUND IN 1ST FL. & BASEMENT PREP AREAS,ON WALLS & CEILINGS ,EXTERIOR OF BOXED DRY FOOD & PAPER GOOD ITEMS.MUST HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 7/16/26.(PRIORITY 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
core violation
████████████PASS
6-501.111 : OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF AN INFESTATION OF ONE LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING ON FLOOR FROM FLOOR DRAIN TO LEG OF DISH MACHINE AND SEVERAL DEAD ON FLOOR UNDER DISH MACHINE AND COOKING EQUIPMENT.ALSO,APPX. 30 OR MORE LIVE SMALL FLIES ON WALLS,CEILINGS,BOXES IN PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS AND IN DRY FOOD STORAGE AREA LOCATED IN GARAGE,BAR AREA.MUST HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 7/21/26.(PRIORITY 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
core violation
████████████PASS
A Lakeview mainstay that closed permanently weeks after this inspection.
OBSERVED PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED WITHIN SPECIFIED TIME FRAME ON THE INSPECTION REPORT2639087 DATED 6/26/26 38# OBSERVED 2 LIVE ROACHES IN FACILITY, INCLUDING IN DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN. NOTED DURING RE-INSPECTION: OBSERVED 6 LIVE COCKROACHES IN PREP, DISH AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE ALL AREAS AFFECTED BY PESTS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT THE VIOLATION SHALL NOW BE CLASSIFIED AS A PRIORITY ITEM DUE TO PREVIOUS NONCOMPLIANCE. MUST CORRECT BEFORE RE-INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.
priority violation
████████████PASS
Cited across two consecutive inspections twelve days apart.
8-404.13 (B:3) PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2638276 DATED:06/10/2026 #38--CONTINUED TO OBSERVE EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 10 LIVE COCKROACHES INSIDE THE OVEN AND 3 LIVE COCKROACHES ON THE WALLS BEHIND THE COOKING WOK EQUIPMENTS,5 LIVE COCKROACHES ON WOODEN STORAGE RACK STORED ON THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA,10 LIVE COCKROACHES ON THE STORAGE RACKS ABOVE THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA AND 1 LIVE COCKROACH ON WALL ADJACENT TO THE DRY STORAGE AREA AND 3 LIVE COCKROCHES INSIDE THE BOTTOM MOTOR COMPARMENT OF THE RC PREP COOLER DIRECTLY ACROSS THE COOKING STOVE.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND REMOVE ALL EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-42-090, CITATION ISSUED.
priority violation
████████████PASS
One of the oldest food licences in the city's active records.
OBSERVED RODENT INFESTATION. LIVE MICE AND RAT OBSERVED IN BASEMENT OVER 350 DROPPINGS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS THROUGHOUT: DINING ROOM, 1ST FLOOR PREP, BASEMENT PREP AND ON SHELVES IN BASEMENT, CHEST FREEZER THROUGHOUT BASEMENT, ON DRIED PINTO BEAN STORAGE , ON ONIONS UNDER THE STAIRS IN DRY STORAGE AREA, ALONG BASEBOARDS AND UNDER IN STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE BASEMENT REAR SOUTH BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DROPPINGS, SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS HAVE PEST CO. SERVICE FOR RATS AND MICE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED.
priority violation
████████████PASS
A downtown location of a deep-dish chain known well beyond Chicago.
6-501.111 : OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF APPX. 60 OR MORE LIVE SMALL FLIES ON WALLS ,CEILINGS AND FLYING AROUND IN PREP AREAS,DISH WASHING AREA ,REAR BEVERAGE AREA,OUTSIDE OF NORTH TOILET ROOM,REAR LOCKER/STORAGE AREA,ALSO EVIDENCE OF 4- LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING ON WALL & DISH RACK IN DISH MACHINE AREA,ON LOWER WALL BASE BEHIND DOOR IN REAR LOCKER/STORAGE AREA,WALL IN REAR HALLWAY STORAGE AREA AND SEVERAL DEAD ROACHES ON FLOOR UNDER DISH MACHINE.RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 6/9/26.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
priority violation
████████████PASS
A national sandwich chain. The same violation had gone uncorrected from a prior visit a week earlier.
PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2636011 4/30/26 NOT CORRECTED #38-6-501.111 : STILL OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF 10- LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING IN OPENINGS IN FRAME AND CREVICES ON UNDERSIDES OF SODA CABINET,UPPER BEAMS AT SEATING BOOTH IN DINING AREA NEXT TO SODA CABINET AND INSIDE OF GAP SURROUND OF SODA CABINET AND SEVERAL DEAD ROACHES ON FLOOR INSIDE OF CABINETS AND COMPONETS OF SODA MACHINE CABINET.MUST REMOVE DEAD ROACHES,CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS. MUST HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 5/7/26(PRIORITY 7-42-090)(CITATION ISSUED)
priority violation
████████████PASS
6-501.111 : OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF 10 LIVE ROACHES CRAWLING INSIDE OF BROKEN LOWER WALL BASE,BOTH MOP HOOKING SYSTEM HOLES,ON LEDGE ABOVE HOOKING SYSTEM AND SEVERAL DEAD ON FLOOR IN REAR CO2,EMPLOYEES STORAGE AREA,DRINK STORAGE AREA.REMOVE DEAD ROACHES CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREA.RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 5/14/26.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
priority violation
████████████PASS
Ground floor of a landmarked 1927 tower in the Loop.
OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF APPX. 100 OR MORE RAT DROPPINGS ON FLOOR UNDER DRY FOOD STORAGE SHELVES,IN CORNER OF PIPES OF MOTOR,BEHIND ICE MACHINE ,STOVE,OVENS AND PREP TABLES.LIVE ROACHES IN A BUCKET IN HOT WATER TANK AREA AND DEAD ROACHES ON FLOOR IN BASEMENT PREP AREA.MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS AND DEAD ROACHES CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS. RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 4/24/26.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
priority violation
████████████PASS
An uncorrected repeat of a violation flagged two weeks earlier.
8-404.13(B)(3) OBSERVED PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED. REPORT #2638258 DATED JUNE 10 2026 INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO: #38 SERVICE ALL AREAS AFFECTED BY PESTS. OBSERVED APPROX. 20 RODENT DROPPINGS UNDER AND AROUND THE SHELVING IN THE BASEMENT AND GREASE TRAP AND 2 LIVE ROACHES ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ADDRESS PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATIONS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-42-090.
priority violation
████████████PASS
RODENT INFESTATION OBSERVED ON PREMISES. FOUND 400 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON PREMISES IN THE KITCHEN ON THE FLOOR AROUND UNDER AND BEHIND VARIOUS EQUIPMENT, ON TOP OF DISHMACHINE, ON TOP OF PREP TABLE, INSIDE THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE FRYER, UNDER STORAGE SHELVES IN REAR AREA BY WALK-IN UNITS, ON THE FLOOR IN THE STORAGE AREA INSIDE OF KITCHEN, ON THE FLOOR IN THE STORAGE AREA AND FURNACE AREA OUTSIDE OF KITCHEN, ON SHELVES BEHIND THE BEVERAGE COUNTER AND IN THE CLOSET BY THE BEVERAGE COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL AREAS AND HAVE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED FOR CONTROL OF VERMIN AND INSECTS. OBSERVED 4 LIVE ROACHES ON PREMISES AND A DEAD MOUSE.
priority violation
████████████PASS
OBSERVED TWO LIVE ROACHES AND THREE SMALL FLIES IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE ROACH AND SMALL FLY ACTIVITY IN FACILITY AND CLEAN AFFECTED AREAS, RECOMMENDED LICENSED PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE FACILITY ON OR AFTER 5/19/2026. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION
priority violation
████████████PASS
OBSERVED PEST ACTIVITY ON PREMISES. OBSERVED ONE LIVE ROACH AND SEVERAL DEAD ROACHES IN THE KITCHEN. OBSERVED RODENT ACTIVITY IN KITCHEN. FOUND 50 OR MORE MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR IN THE KITCHEN AREA UNDER PREP TABLES AND ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL AREAS AND HAVE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE PRIOR TO REINSPECTION NEXT WEEK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED FOR CONTROL OF VERMIN AND INSECTS.
priority violation
Independent service — not affiliated with the City of Chicago, Cook County, or any restaurant. Health inspection data sourced directly from the City of Chicago's public Food Inspections open-data feed (data.cityofchicago.org, dataset 4ijn-s7e5), rebuilt from the live feed on every deploy. Neighborhood is derived from ZIP code and is approximate.