Yao's Cafe
Last inspected: Mar 3, 2026
86
Score
The health department has logged six inspections at Yao's Cafe, the earliest from 2022. The most recent visit was on Mar 3, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around two violations to closer to five violations.
“Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” comes up most often, recorded two times in the inspection record.
Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Yao's Cafe is doing better than most peers. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 3, 2026
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Keeping spoon for scooping rice in standing water at room temperature, instructed to keep according to health code, ie.
43
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: Using deli cups as a scoop for bulk food containers, instructed to use proper scoops.
47
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: Employee's toilet room door not self-closing, Instructed to provide a self-closing device.
53
86
Apr 16, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 5 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS FOOD ITEMS AT IMPROPER COLD-HOLDING TEMPERATURES IN THE WALK-IN COOLER: RAW SHELLFISH AT 47.8F, RAW CHICKEN AT 46.6F, RAW BEEF AT 46.9F. INSTRUCTED TO DENATURE AND DISCARD ALL TCS FOOD ITEMS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES AND MAINTAIN ALL TCS FOOD ITEMS AT 41.0�F OR BELOW FOR COLD-HOLDING. APPROXIMATELY 35 LBS OF FOOD VALUED APPROXIMATELY $100.00WAS DISCARDED ON-SITE. PERSON-IN-CHARGE DISCARDED AND DENATURED ALL MENTIONED TCS FOOD ITEMS ON-SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
22
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY RE-USING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BOBA CONTAINERS TO STORE FRUITS AND OTHER FOOD ITEMS FOR BOBA TEA. INSTRUCTED TO CEASE RE-USE OF SINGLE-USE CONTAINERS AND REPLACE WITH MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT FOR STORING FRUITS AND OTHER FOOD ITEMS AND MAINTAIN.
45
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL UNWRAPPED DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWEL ROLLS STORED ON SHELF IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWEL ROLLS AND MAINTAIN SINGLE-SERVICE/SINGLE-USE ARTICLES OUTSIDE OF PROHIBITED AREAS, SUCH AS TOILET ROOMS.
45
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HEAVY BUILD-UP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM ABOVE THE MAIN COOK LINE. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN A VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM OF AN ADEQUATE NUMBER AND CAPACITY TO PREVENT THE BUILDUP OF GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS ALONG THE HOOD SYSTEM AND ADJACENT SURFACES AND MAINTAIN.
56
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED REACH-IN COOLERS THROUGHOUT MAIN COOK LINE MISSING INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN A CONSPICUOUS AND EASILY VIEWABLE LOCATION IN ALL EQUIPMENT USED TO COLD-HOLD TCS FOOD ITEMS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
36
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED REAR EXTERIOR DOOR WITH BOTTOM DOOR SWEEP IN POOR REPAIR AND GAPS GREATER THAN 1/4" BETWEEN DOOR AND DOOR FRAME, INADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM ENTRY OF PESTS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DOOR SWEEP AND ELIMINATE GAPS TO PREVENT ENTRY OF INSECTS AND OTHER PESTS, AND MAINTAIN.
38
67
Feb 27, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD ITEMS INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER TO BE IMPROPER: NOODLES 68.4F. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY AND VOLUNTARILY DISPOSED OF 10 LBS OF PRODUCTS WORTH $20.00 THROUGH DENATURING PROCESS. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
22
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON SEVERAL PREP SURFACE AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT & FOOD. MUST MAINTAIN
41
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FROZEN CHICKEN, BEEF, PORK, AND OTHER FOOD ITEMS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE 2-DOOR FREEZERS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER FOOD-GRADE STORAGE BAGS AND CONTAINERS ONLY.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER-STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE STAINED CEILING TILES.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MOP IN A POSITION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO DRY PROPERLY AND PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. MUST STORE MOP AFTER USE IN A MOUNTED POSITION THAT ALLOWS FOR AIR-DRYING WITHOUT SOILING AND PEST HARBORAGING.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BURNT-OUT LIGHT BULB IN THE REAR UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
56
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
57
64
Feb 22, 2023
Reinspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS(NOODLES) STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR.
39
95
Feb 10, 2023
Routine
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ADEQUATE SUPPLIES ON SITE TO PROPERLY RESPOND TO VOMIT AND/OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
5
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT AVAILABLE DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE TEST KIT FOR PROPER CONCENTRATION IN SANITIZING SOLUTIONS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
48
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVERED FOOD ITEMS(NOODLES) STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR.
39
78
Mar 15, 2022
License
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
3
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
86
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Yao's Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Yao's Cafe on file is from Mar 3, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Yao's Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Yao's Cafe.
Has Yao's Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Yao's Cafe have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Yao's Cafe 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 Yao's Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Yao's Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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