Kajiken

2161 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616

Japanese / Sushi

Last inspected: Aug 20, 2025

100

Score

Low Risk

Kajiken has been inspected five times since 2023. The most recent report on file is from Aug 20, 2025. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around four violations to closer to zero violations per visit over the last few inspections.

Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Kajiken on the better side of that line. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Aug 20, 2025

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Aug 12, 2025

Routine

3 critical violations. 2 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector notes: OBSERVED RAW FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES IN THE PREP AREA 10LBS OF BEEF AT 70.4F. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL 10LBS AT $200. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW . PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOW TEMPERATURE WAREWASHING MACHINE LOCATED IN THE KITCHEN'S DISH AREA NOT PROPERLY SANITIZING. THE SANITIZING RESIDUAL CONCENTRATION WAS OBSERVED AT 10PPM AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR TO MEET SANITIZING REQUIREMENTS OF 50-100PPM. DISH MACHINE WAS SERVICED BY MANAGER DURING INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED .

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING SINK NOT MAINTAINED WITH HOT WATER: IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF HOT WATER OBSERVED AT EMPLOYEE WASHROOM HANDSINK (72F). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE HOT WATER AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS MUST BE AT LEAST 100F. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP ON COOKING EQUIPMENT, WALLS, SURROUNDING FLOORS AND SHELVING UNITS IN THE KITCHEN/PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO DEGREASE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Jun 4, 2024

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: FOUND THE FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE WITH NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED PIC TO HAVE EMPLOYEES OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN VALID CERTIFICATES.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: THE CFM ON SITE DID NOT HAVE AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED HIM TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN SAID CERTIFICATE.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLERS/EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED PIC TO HAVE EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FLOORS IN THE CORNERS, UNDER/AROUND THE COOLERS/COOKING EQUIPMENT AND SINKS WITH FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS. -WALLS AROUND THE SINKS AND COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH DIRT AND FOOD SPLATTER, VENTS IN THE TOILET ROOM WITH DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE WALLS AND VENTS.

Oct 11, 2023

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD UP IN REAR DISH AREA ON FLOORS UNDER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Oct 4, 2023

Complaint

2 major violations. 1 minor violation.

View 3 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED HANDSINK PREVIOUSLY LOCATED IN FRONT PREP AREA REMOVED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO RE-INSTALL HANDSINK WITH HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE SUPPLIED WITH SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS TO BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO FOODSERVICE STAFF.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: OBSERVED PINK MOLD LIKE SUBSTANCE ON INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE DRIPPING ONTO ICE (ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION). INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO DISCARD ICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE MACHINE, AND MANINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD UP IN REAR DISH AREA ON FLOORS UNDER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kajiken last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Kajiken on file is from Aug 20, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Kajiken?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Kajiken.

Has Kajiken's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Kajiken have averaged around zero violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Kajiken 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 Kajiken inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Kajiken is inspected around three times per year on average.

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