Strings Ramen
Last inspected: Feb 5, 2026
61
Score
Across the available record, Strings Ramen has three inspections on file, the first dated 2025. On Feb 5, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around 10 violations each.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Strings Ramen trails the local norm. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
10
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 5, 2026
Reinspection
10 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CLEANING TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED INSIDE THE UTILITY MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO STORE SOILED MOPS INVERTED.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED EXTREMELY DIRTY FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THE DISH MACHINE SCRAPER SINK.----DIRTY FLOORS UNDER THE DISH MACHINE, THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, BEHIND WATER HEATER AND UNDER ALL COOKS LINE EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.----MISSING FLOOR TILES AT THE DISH MACHINE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.
57
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: ALL BULK FOODS NOT STORED IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH THE PRODUCT NAME.
37
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: ALL PREP AREA WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE HELD IN A CONTAINER WITH A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USE.
41
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: ALL PREP AREA WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE HELD IN A CONTAINER WITH A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USE.
44
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: ALL STORED BOXED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY AND STORED ITEMS INSIDE THE KITCHEN CLOSET MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: EXTREMELY DIRTY UTILITY MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: BROKEN LID OF THE COOKS LINE TWO DOOR COOLER WITH EXPOSED INSULATION AND REPAIRED WITH TAPE.----ALSO NOTED SEVERAL PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS THROUGHOUT THE WALK-IN COOLER AND IN CLEAN STORED UTENSIL AREA BROKEN/CRACKED AND REPAIRED WITH TAPE. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE ALL.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF ALL COOLERS, FREEZERS, GAS STOVES, COOKS LINE WOK AND TABLE TOP CAN OPENER DIRTY WITH FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE AND FOOD SPILLAGE. MUST CLEAN ALL AND MAINTAIN.
49
61
Jan 28, 2026
Routine
1 critical violation. 6 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE WASHING DISHES AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK WITHOUT SANITIZING IN THE FINAL RINSE COMPARTMENT. EMPLOYEE WASHING POTS AND PANS WITHOUT SANITIZER THEN STORE THE PANS WITH OTHER CLEAN POTS/PANS. REVIEWED PROPER SANITIZING REQUIREMENTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY SET THE SINK TO SANITIZE WITH CHLORINE AND RE-WASH AND SANITIZE DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025 CITATION ISSUED.
16
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED THE COOKS LINE HAND WASHING SINK NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR USE. SINK BLOCKED BY A LARGE GARBAGE CAN AND A PLASTIC FOOD CART WITH TOGO FOOD CONTAINERS STORED. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL AND MAKE THE SINK ACCESSIBLE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.
10
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: OUTSIDE WALKWAY TO THE WASTE RECEPTACLES WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF PILED OLD EQUIPMENT,FOOD BOXES, CRATES, USED OIL CONTAINERS AND USED DIRTY SOY SAUCE CONTAINERS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL FROM THE OUTSIDE GROUNDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(B) CITATION ISSUED.
54
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: SMALLER MENU DOES NOT DISCLOSE AND INFORM CONSUMERS THE SPECIFIC MENU ITEMS THAT ARE RAW OR UNDERCOOKED SUCH AS TOMAGO (UNDERCOOKED EGG) IN BOWL DISHES. MUST DISCLOSE AND REMIND CUSTOMERS OF SUCH FOOD ON BOTH THE PRINTED AND VIRTUAL MENUS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
25
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NO PAPER TOWELS AVAILABLE AT THE COOKS LINE (WEST) HAND WASHING SINK AND THE DISH HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). SEE THE ABOVE VIOLATION #10 FOR CITATION.
10
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 100 LBS PREPARED TCS FOODS THROUGHOUT THE WALK-IN COOLER SUCH AS COOKED ASSORTED MEATS, BROTHS, SAUCES NOT DATE LABELED WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE. NO DATES ON FOODS OF ANY TYPE. ALL FOODS DISCARDED. REVIEWED DATE LABELING REQUIREMENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
23
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NO SOAP AVAILABLE AT THE COOKS LINE (WEST) HAND WASHING SINK AND THE FRONT PREP AND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). SEE THE ABOVE VIOLATION #10 FOR CITATION.
10
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: ALL BULK FOODS NOT STORED IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS MUST BE LABELED WITH THE PRODUCT NAME.
37
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: ALL PREP AREA WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE HELD IN A CONTAINER WITH A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USE.
41
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE SOILED PAPER TOWELS WRAPPED AROUND PLASTIC SQUEEZE BOTTLES AS GRIPS ON THE COOKS LINE. MUST BE SMOOTH CLEANABLE.
44
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: ALL STORED BOXED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY AND STORED ITEMS INSIDE THE KITCHEN CLOSET MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.
45
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: EXTREMELY DIRTY UTILITY MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: BROKEN LID OF THE COOKS LINE TWO DOOR COOLER WITH EXPOSED INSULATION AND REPAIRED WITH TAPE.----ALSO NOTED SEVERAL PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS THROUGHOUT THE WALK-IN COOLER AND IN CLEAN STORED UTENSIL AREA BROKEN/CRACKED AND REPAIRED WITH TAPE. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE ALL.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF ALL COOLERS, FREEZERS, GAS STOVES, COOKS LINE WOK AND TABLE TOP CAN OPENER DIRTY WITH FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE AND FOOD SPILLAGE. MUST CLEAN ALL AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: CLEANING TOOLS IMPROPERLY STORED INSIDE THE UTILITY MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO STORE SOILED MOPS INVERTED.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED EXTREMELY DIRTY FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THE DISH MACHINE SCRAPER SINK.----DIRTY FLOORS UNDER THE DISH MACHINE, THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, BEHIND WATER HEATER AND UNDER ALL COOKS LINE EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.----MISSING FLOOR TILES AT THE DISH MACHINE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE.
57
29
May 16, 2025
License
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE MISSING FOR CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND PROVIDE PROOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
58
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Strings Ramen last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Strings Ramen on file is from Feb 5, 2026. The public record contains three inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Strings Ramen?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Strings Ramen.
Has Strings Ramen's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Strings Ramen have averaged around 10 violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Strings Ramen means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
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