SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

MEI FOOD.

BEAT. 44/100

220 W 31ST ST · CHINATOWN, CHICAGO

Last inspected February 24, 2026 · passed with conditions

Failed an inspection 1 year ago. 8 critical violations on the cumulative record. Recent enough to matter.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
5
2 passed · 2 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
27
includes 8 critical
RECORDS COVER
2 YEARS
since Oct 2023

INSPECTION HISTORY

FEB 24
2026
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
6 violations2 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

NO VALID FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE.

CRITICALDocumentation & Training
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

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.

MINORFood Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

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.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

WHEN I ENTERED THE KITCHEN FOOD HANDLERS WERE NOT WEARING APPROPRIATE HAIR RESTRAINTS; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

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.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

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.

APR 1
2025
PASSED
0 violations
MAR 31
2025
FAILED
8 violations3 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

CRITICALPest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

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.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

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.

MINOROther
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED FACILITY MISSING 1 SINK STOPPER FOR THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

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.

CRITICALFood Temperature
HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE

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

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED THE DOOR TO THE TOILET ROOM NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON MENTIONED DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

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.

FEB 27
2024
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
11 violations3 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALOther
PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

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.

CRITICALOther
REQUIRED RECORDS AVAILABLE: SHELLSTOCK TAGS, PARASITE DESTRUCTION

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

MINOROther
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN THE PREP COOLER ACROSS FROM THE DEEP FRYING UNITS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

CRITICALPest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

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.

MINORFood Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

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.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED 3 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.

MINOROther
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED BALLS OF PLASTIC BEING USED AS SINK STOPPERS FOR THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THREE APPROPRIATE SINK STOPPERS AND MAINTAIN.

SERIOUSSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

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.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVES IN THE FOOD PREP AREA WITH FOOD SPLATTERS AND NOT MAINTAINED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED THE FLOORS IN THE DRY STORAGE CLOSET WITH RICE, FLOUR, AND NOT MAINTAINED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN SAID FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.

MINORDocumentation & Training
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

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

OCT 27
2023
PASSED
2 violations
DETAILS
MINORDocumentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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.

MINORDocumentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO OBTAIN ALLERGEN TRAINING AND RETAIN CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

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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