Chinese Kitchen Mei
Last inspected: Sep 23, 2025
100
Score
The health department has logged seven inspections at Chinese Kitchen Mei, the earliest from 2022. Chinese Kitchen Mei was last inspected on Sep 23, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around three violations each.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable”, showing up five times.
Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Chinese Kitchen Mei is comfortably above that bar. The record reflects steady performance over time.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Sep 23, 2025
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Sep 19, 2025
Complaint
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER THROUGHOUT FACILITY. NOTED ALL SINKS IN FACILITY MAINTAINING IMPROPER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 75.7F AND 78.0F. MANAGEMENT STATES HOT WATER HEATER BROKE LAST NIGHT. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT HOT WATER THROUGHOUT FACILITY AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
50
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 RODENT DROPPINGS IN CABINET AND ON FLOOR OF EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DROPPINGS, RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN FACILITY FREE OF PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
38
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREP TABLE MOUNTED CAN OPENER CRACKED AND COVERED IN RUST AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CARDBOARD AND EGG CRATES USED AS SHELF LINERS AND STORAGE CONTAINERS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD/EGG CRATES AND MAINTAIN ONLY SMOOTH, CLEANABLE SURFACES.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: PLUMBING UNDER 2 COMPARTMENT SINK LEAKS. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN PLUMBING.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CLUTTER IN REAR CORNER NEAR WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN ONLY NECESSARY ITEMS ON SITE. KEEP AREAS ACCESSIBLE FOR CLEANING AND PEST MONITORING.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HEAVY BUILD UP OF GREASE, GRIME, AND FOOD DEBRIS UNDERNEATH AND BEHIND COOK LINE AND HEAVY BUILD UP OF DUST AND GRIME ON WALL NEAR REAR HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
55
Food separated and protected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON FLOOR IN WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS OFF FLOOR 6 INCHES.
15
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK INGREDIENT CONTAINERS NOT LABELED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOOD CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GROCERY BAGS USED TO STORE FOOD IN WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CEASE AND USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE CONTAINERS.
39
52
May 5, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Sep 5, 2024
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED POTS OF FOOD BEING STORED ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH STORAGE SHELVES IN WALK-IN COOLER IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS AND MAINTAIN.
39
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON ON MULTIPLE PREP SURFACE AREAS IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT & FOOD AND MAINTAIN
41
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RUSTED STORAGE RACKS IN WALK IN COOLER IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE RUST AND ENSURE ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES REMAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CARDBOARD BEING USED AS LINER ON MULTIPLE PREP SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE CARDBOARD AND ENSURE ALL NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES REMAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE AND MAINTAIN.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING, AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
55
78
Feb 16, 2023
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-101.11 OBSERVED FROZEN MEATS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS OR CONTAINERS.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-602.13 CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE 3 DOOR PREP COOLER.
49
90
Feb 6, 2023
Routine
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #2561821 ON 8/8/22 NOT CORRECTED: 53 - OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE AND MAINTAIN. 57 - OBSERVED EMPLOYEES WITH NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES AND MAINTAIN. 58 - OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO ENSURE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT HOLDS A CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE HAS COMPLETED AND RECEIVED ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.
60
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FROZEN MEATS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS OR CONTAINERS.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE 3 DOOR PREP COOLER AND STAINLESS STEEL SHELVES ABOVE THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.
49
82
Aug 8, 2022
License
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE AND MAINTAIN.
53
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES WITH NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO ENSURE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES AND MAINTAIN.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO ENSURE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT HOLDS A CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE HAS COMPLETED AND RECEIVED ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE.
58
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chinese Kitchen Mei last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Chinese Kitchen Mei on file is from Sep 23, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Chinese Kitchen Mei?
Across the inspection record, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Chinese Kitchen Mei.
Has Chinese Kitchen Mei's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Chinese Kitchen Mei have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Chinese Kitchen Mei means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Chinese Kitchen Mei inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Chinese Kitchen Mei is inspected around two times per year on average.
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