SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

AROMA HOT POT.

YOUR CALL. 52/100

2026 S CLARK ST · CHINATOWN, CHICAGO

Last inspected February 18, 2026 · passed

2 of 4 inspections passed, 1 failed, 1 passed with conditions. 4 critical violations across the record.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
4
2 passed · 1 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
29
includes 4 critical
RECORDS COVER
1 YEAR
since Jul 2024

INSPECTION HISTORY

FEB 18
2026
PASSED
5 violations
DETAILS
MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE FRYERS AND EXTERIOR SURFACES TO REMOVE GREASE.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE CEILING VENTS AND INSIDE OF LIGHT SHIELDS WHERE NEEDED IN KITCHEN AND WASHROOMS.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FOUND SOME WATER STAINED CEILING TILE IN THE WASHROOMS; INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TILE WHERE NEEDED.

MINORSanitation
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED THE VENTS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE HOODED SYSTEM IN NEED OF CLEANING; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

FEB 4
2026
FAILED
11 violations2 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

THE PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE.

CRITICALDocumentation & Training
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

THE PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE AS REQUIRED; INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED FOR FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.

SERIOUSOther
FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED

INADEQUATE FOOD PROTECTION. NO PROTECTIVE BARRIER OBSERVED AT THE SIDE OF THE SELF SERVICE COLD FOOD BAR; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 ISSUED FOR FOOD REQUIREMENTS.

SERIOUSSanitation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

FOUND NO CHEMICAL SANITIZER AT LOW TEMP DISHMACHINE AS REQUIRED; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025 CITATION FOR EQUIPMENT STANDARDS. MACHINE NOT IN USE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. MACHINE TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTION AND CANNOT BE USED UNTIL REINSPECTED BY CDPH WITH PROPER CHEMICAL.

SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

FOUND IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES. FOUND COOKED RICE, CRAB RANGOON, SPRING ROLLS, SESAME BALLS, CHICKEN NUGGETS AND ONION RINGS AT HOT HOLDING UNIT AT TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 100F AND 112F. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL HOT HOLDING FOOD ITEMS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 135F OR ABOVE AT ALL TIMES. 10 LBS OF FOOD ITEMS VALUED AT $100. PRIORITY VIOLATION CITATION ISSUED FOR FOOD REQUIREMENTS 7-38-005.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE FRYERS AND EXTERIOR SURFACES TO REMOVE GREASE.

MINORPlumbing & Waste
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED THE FAUCET KNOB AT THE EXPOSED HANDSINK IN THE DISHWASHING AREA IN MISSING FOR THE HOT WATER; INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE KNOB.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FOUND SOME WATER STAINED CEILING TILE IN THE WASHROOMS; INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TILE WHERE NEEDED.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE CEILING VENTS AND INSIDE OF LIGHT SHIELDS WHERE NEEDED IN KITCHEN AND WASHROOMS.

MINORSanitation
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED THE VENTS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE HOODED SYSTEM IN NEED OF CLEANING; INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

MAR 17
2025
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
10 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED FACILITY MISSING THE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

SERIOUSFood Temperature
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED LOW-TEMPERATURE DISHWASHING MACHINE (NOT IN USE) NOT PROPERLY SANITIZING. SANITIZING STRENGTH OF SANITIZER (CHLORINE) AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION WAS 0 PPM. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNTIL EQUIPMENT IS PROPERLY SANITIZING. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE DISHWASHING MACHINE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-025, NO CITATION ISSUED

SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS. FOUND SPRING ROLLS (129.0F), SEASME BALLS 99.8F, AND FRIED FISH TOFU (100.1F) ON THE FRONT SELF-SERVICE BUFFET. APPROXIMATELY 6LBS AT $33 WORTH OF PRODUCT DISCARDED. INSTRUCTED TO HOLD HOT TCS FOODS AT 135F OR ABOVE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED

SERIOUSFood Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

OBSERVED IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS. FOUND A CONTAINER OF RAW FISH (52.0F) IN THE 1 COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA, SLICED HONEYDEW MELON (52.1F) IN THE SELF-SERVICE BUFFET IN A COLD HOLDING UNIT. MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING FOODS AT 41.0F OR BELOW. APPROXIMATELY 13LBS AT $50 WORTH OF PRODUCT DISCARDED. PRIORITY 7-38-005, CITATION CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION #21

SERIOUSChemical Safety
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

OBSERVED A BUCKET WITH TOWELS AND A SPRAY BOTTLE WITH UNKNOWN CHEMICAL AND NOT LABELED. THE BUCKET OF CHEMICALS WAS STORED ON THE FOOD PREP TABLE IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND THE SPRAY BOTTLE WAS STORED ON THE A LOWER SHELF BEHIND A FOOD PREP TABLE. MUST PROVIDE PROPER MARKING ON ALL CHEMICAL CONTAINERS. BUCKET AND SPRAYER BOTTLE WAS LABELED PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-015, CITATION ISSUED

MINORFood Temperature
APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

OBSERVED A BUCKET OF RAW FISH AND WATER BEING THAWED IN THE ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REEAR FOOD PREP AREA. INSTURCTED TO USE PROPER THAWING METHODS AND MAINTAIN.

MINORChemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

OBSERVED TWO BULK DRY INGREDIENTS AND A SQUIRTT BOTTLE NOT LABELED WITH THE FOOD ITEMS COMMON NAME. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED RAW MEATS PLATED FOR SERVICE STORED NEAR THE HANDWASHING SINK/ PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE FOOD ITEM TO AVOID CONTAMINATING FOOD ITEMS AFTER HANDWASHING.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD HANDLER MUST TAKE CORUSE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS ON SITE.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WITH THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST TAKE COURSE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

JUL 26
2024
PASSED
3 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK NEXT TO THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

OBSERVED CLEAN DISHWARE NOT INVERTED ON THE DISH RACK AND SHELF IN THE DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL MENTIONED DISHWARE AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED A MISSING RECEPTACLE WITH A LID, IN THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR DISPOSAL OF FEMININE PRODUCTS AND MAINTAIN.

Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health. We'd love to link you straight to this restaurant's record — turns out Chicago considers that a luxury. The full dataset is what's on offer →

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