Yao'S Cafe
601 W 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60609 · Back of the Yards · Restaurant · High risk
Mostly clean — 2 of 6 passed, one prior failure
Last Inspected
2026-03-03
What You Should Know
✓ 4 consecutive passes, most recently 2026-03-03
⚠ Failed 1 inspection (2023)
⚠ Other issues found across 4 inspections
⚠ Pest Activity issues found across 2 inspections
→ Issues were corrected on re-inspection
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Types of Issues Found
🌡 Food Temperature serious 3×
🐀 Pest Activity critical 2×
🔧 Facility Condition minor 2×
📦 Food Storage & Handling minor 2×
📋 Documentation & Training critical 2×
🚰 Plumbing & Waste minor 1×
Inspection History
3 ▾
minor Food Temperature
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
Keeping spoon for scooping rice in standing water at room temperature, instructed to keep according to health code, ie.
minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Using deli cups as a scoop for bulk food containers, instructed to use proper scoops.
minor Sanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
Employee's toilet room door not self-closing, Instructed to provide a self-closing device.
2025-04-16 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass CRITICAL 6 ▾
serious Food Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
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 MAI...
minor Other
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
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 FO...
critical Pest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
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 INS...
minor Other
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
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 MAIN...
minor Plumbing & Waste
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
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...
minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
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 GRE...
2024-02-27 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass 7 ▾
serious Food Temperature
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
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 ...
minor Sanitation
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
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
minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
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.
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED WATER-STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE STAINED CEILING TILES.
minor Pest Activity
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
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.
minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED BURNT-OUT LIGHT BULB IN THE REAR UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
minor Other
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
2023-02-22 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection 1 ▾
minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS(NOODLES) STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR.
CRITICAL 3 ▾
critical Other
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
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.
minor Food Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
OBSERVERED FOOD ITEMS(NOODLES) STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR.
serious Sanitation
WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
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.
2022-03-15 Pass w/ Conditions License CRITICAL 2 ▾
critical Documentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
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.
minor Documentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
Nearby in Back of the Yards
Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health ·
Score calculated from inspection outcomes, violation severity & recency.
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