Mei Food
Last inspected: Feb 24, 2026
70
Score
Mei Food appears in inspection records five times, starting in 2023. Inspectors last stopped by on Feb 24, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.
Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around six violations lately compared to roughly four violations before.
The pattern that stands out is “non-food/food contact surfaces clean”, which has been cited four times.
Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
5
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 24, 2026
Routine
1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO VALID FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE. THE PERSON IN CHARGE HAS NO VALID FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE AS REQUIRED; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. A PRIORITY FOUNDATION CITATION 7-38-012 ISSUED FOR FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: NO VALID FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE.
1
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FOOD CONTAINER WITH NOODLES STORED UNDER THE THREE COMP SINK AND FOOD ITEMS IN CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE WALK IN COOLER; INSTRUCTED TO STORE ALL FOOD ITEMS ON SHELVES AND NOT ON FLOOR.
39
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: WHEN I ENTERED THE KITCHEN FOOD HANDLERS WERE NOT WEARING APPROPRIATE HAIR RESTRAINTS; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE.
40
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING: EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, REFRIGERATION UNITS, BULK STORAGE CONTAINERS, PREP TABLES, INTERIORS OF REFRIGERATION UNITS AND ALL STORAGE SHELVES.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOORS UNDER AROUND AND BEHIND ALL KITCHEN EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE GREASE AND DIRT. CLEAN FLOOR INSIDE OF WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE WALLS AROUND AND BEHIND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT WHERE NEEDED AND MAINTAIN. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN CEILING VENTS IN KITCHEN.
55
70
Apr 1, 2025
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 31, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Hot & cold water available; adequate pressure
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT WATER ON SITE. WAREWASHING SINK WATER, HANDWAHSING SINK IN PREP AREA, AT THE HANDWAHSING SINK IN THE TOILET ROOM TEMPERATURES RANGED 69.4-74.0F. HOT WATER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE PEAK HOT WATER DEMANDS THROUGHOUT THE RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C), CITATION ISSUED
50
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 OR MORE MICE DROPPINGS IN THE REAR FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. FOUND MICE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR, SHELF AND CANNED GOODS IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE CLOSET. DROPPINGS WERE FOUND ON THE FLOOR UNDER AND SURROUNING THE COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDER THE VENTILATION HOOD AND ON THE SHELVES UNDER THE FOOD PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE MICE DROPPINGS, CLEAN, AND SANITIZE AFFECTED SURFACES. RECOMMEND CONTACTING PEST CONTROL. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED.
38
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
10
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 3 FOOD HANDLERS WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS, WHILE IN FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
40
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY MISSING 1 SINK STOPPER FOR THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
48
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE SHELVES UNDER THE FOOD PREP TABLES IN NEED OF CLEANING. ALSO, THE SIDES OF THE COOKING EQUIPMENT FOUND WITH GREASE ENCRUSTED ON THE SURFACE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE DOOR TO THE TOILET ROOM NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON MENTIONED DOOR AND MAINTAIN.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE REAR FOOD PREP/DISHWASHING AREA IN NEED OF CLEANING. ESPECIALLY UNDER THE COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDER THE VENTILATION HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN ALL FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.
55
58
Feb 27, 2024
Routine
2 major violations. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 10/27/2023, REPORT #2584153 #57: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR EMPLOYEES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ANY EMPLOYEES THAT HANDLE FOOD MUST ACQUIRE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. #58: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION:7-42-090, CITATION ISSUED
60
Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO CONTAINERS OF SHELLSTOCK WITHOUT TAGS LOCATED IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. INFORMED MANAGER THAT TAG MUST REMAIN ATTACHED TO CONTAINER UNTIL CONTAINER IS EMPTY. APPROXIMATELY 8LBS AT $80 WORTH OF SHELLSTOCK DISCARDED AND DENATURED AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE APPROVAL SOURCES OF SHELLFISH AND MAINTAIN TAGS FOR 90 DAYS ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED
14
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA WITH FOOD SPLATTERS AND NOT MAINTAINED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FLOORS IN THE DRY STORAGE CLOSET WITH RICE, FLOUR, AND NOT MAINTAINED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN SAID FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2-3 FOOD HANDLERS EATTING THROUGHOUT REAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER FOOD HANDLERS MUST EAT IN DESIGNATED AREA IN THE FACILITY TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
6
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN THE PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM THE DEEP FRYING UNITS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
36
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN ELECTRIC INSECT DEVICE STORED AOBVE THE FREEZER UNIT IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE SAID INSECT CONTROL DEVICE FROM ABOVE FOOD ITEMS AND SURFACES.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO METAL BOWLS OF NOODLES IN WATER UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND POT OF STOCK STORED ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REFRAIN FROM STORING FOOD ON THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
39
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 3 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.
40
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BALLS OF PLASTIC BEING USED AS SINK STOPPERS FOR THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THREE APPROPRIATE SINK STOPPERS AND MAINTAIN.
48
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLIGHT GREASE ENCRUSTED ON THE SIDES OF THE COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDER THE VENTILATION HOOD AND ALSO THE SHELF UNDER THE FOOD PREP TABELE ACROSS FROM THE COOKING LINE NOT CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ENCRUSTED GREASE AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL MENTIONED SURFACES.
49
52
Oct 27, 2023
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR EMPLOYEES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ANY EMPLOYEES THAT HANDLE FOOD MUST ACQUIRE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
58
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mei Food last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Mei Food on file is from Feb 24, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Mei Food?
Across the inspection record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Mei Food.
Has Mei Food's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Mei Food have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly four earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Mei Food 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 Mei Food inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Mei Food is inspected around two times per year on average.
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