Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks
Last inspected: Aug 13, 2025
61
Score
Public records show four inspections at Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks stretching back to 2023. The most recent report on file is from Aug 13, 2025. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near nine violations each time.
“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” comes up most often, recorded nine times in the inspection record.
Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks' latest score of 61 falls below the Chicago average of 81. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
10
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 13, 2025
Reinspection
10 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.17 : MUST CLEAN DUST BUILD UP FROM WALL AND CEILING VENTS IN KITCHEN AND TOILET ROOMS,DEAD INSECTS FROM LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP AREA.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.16 : MUST PROVIDE A HOOKING SYSTEM TO HANG UP WET MOPS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.114 : MUST ELEVATE,REMOVE OR ORGANIZE ARTICLES OFF OF FLOOR AND AWAY FROM WALLS IN HOT WATER TANK AREA AND BASEMENT NEAR WALK IN COOLER.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 6-202.11 : MUST REPLACE CRACKED LIGHT SHIELD IN PREP AREA.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 : OBSERVED NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR FOOD MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
58
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 : OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
57
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: 6-202.15 : OBSERVED A GAP IN LEFT CORNER OF REAR DOOR TO BE TIGHT FITTING TO PREVENT INSECT ENTRY.
38
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-601.11(C) : MUST CLEAN CALCIUM BUILD UP FROM INTERIOR PARTS OF DISH MACHINE.MUST DEFROST ICE BUILD UP FROM CHEST FREEZER IN BAR AREA.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 : OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW DEVICE ON BOTH ICE MACHINES MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.13 : MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE MISSING WALL BASES UNDERNEATH 3- COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR DISH WASHING AREA.
55
61
Aug 5, 2025
Routine
4 major violations. 11 minor violations.
View 15 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY PROCEDURE AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)(CITATION ISSUED)
5
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICIES MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010)(CITATION ISSUED)
3
Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 90-DAY SHELLFISH TAGS WITHOUT DATE SOLD OR LAST SERVED ON TAGS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)(COS)(CITATION ISSUED)
14
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF APPX. 30 OR MORE RAT DROPPINGS ON FLOOR AROUND SUMP PUMP LID,ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH WOOD SUPPORT IN SAME AREA.MUST REMOVE DROPPINGS CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS. RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 8/5/25.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
38
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK IN BAR AREA.
10
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A GAP IN LEFT CORNER OF REAR DOOR TO BE TIGHT FITTING TO PREVENT INSECT ENTRY.
38
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM WALK IN COOLER SHELVING UNITS. MUST CLEAN CALCIUM BUILD UP FROM INTERIOR PARTS OF DISH MACHINE.MUST DEFROST ICE BUILD UP FROM CHEST FREEZER IN BAR AREA.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW DEVICE ON BOTH ICE MACHINES MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE MISSING WALL BASES UNDERNEATH 3- COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR DISH WASHING AREA.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN DUST BUILD UP FROM WALL AND CEILING VENTS IN DINING AREA AND TOILET ROOMS,DEAD INSECTS FROM LIGHT SHIELDS IN PREP AREA.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE A HOOKING SYSTEM TO HANG UP WET MOPS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST ELEVATE,REMOVE OR ORGANIZE ARTICLES OFF OF FLOOR AND AWAY FROM WALLS IN HOT WATER TANK AREA AND BASEMENT NEAR WALK IN COOLER.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: MUST REPLACE CRACKED LIGHT SHIELD IN PREP AREA.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR FOOD MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
58
39
Sep 26, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED ASSORTED FOOD ITEMS INSIDE FREEZER FOOD STORED INSIDE THIN PLASTIC WRAP. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE ALL FOOD ITEMS INSIDE APPROVED FOOD GRADE CONTAINERS OR FOOD GRADE BAGS.
47
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: NOTED SOME DIRT AND GREASE ACCUMULATION INSIDE OF THE EXHAUST HOOD ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN HOOD, FILTERS, AND PIPES/CONDUITS.
56
90
Oct 24, 2023
License
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY THAT INCLUDES A SIGNED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION.
3
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSEVERED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE (WASTE CAN WITH LID) INSIDE UNISEX/EMPLOYEE WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE FOR FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SMOKER THAT IS NOT IN USE IN THE BACK PATIO AREA. INSRUCTED TO REMOVE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT IN USE OR NECESSARY TO DAILY OPERATION TO PREVENT HARBORAGE.
55
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT THE BAR AND BATHROOM HANDWASHING SINKS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
10
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE BACKFLOW DEVICE.
51
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks on file is from Aug 13, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited nine times, more than any other issue at Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks.
Has Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks' inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks have averaged around nine violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Gaoku Izakaya & Craft Drinks is inspected around two times per year on average.
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