IsTheKitchenClean?
Home·Blog·About·Contact

Inspections by Neighborhood

  • Lincoln Park
  • Lakeview
  • West Loop
  • Gold Coast
  • Old Town
  • Wrigleyville
  • River North
  • Wicker Park
  • Logan Square
  • Bucktown
  • Fulton Market
  • Streeterville
  • The Loop
  • Andersonville
  • Pilsen
  • Hyde Park
  • Chinatown
  • North Side
  • Northwest Side
  • West Side
  • South Loop
  • South Side
  • Southwest Side
  • Far South Side

Inspections by Violation

  • Rodents
  • Roaches
  • Mold
  • Sewage
  • Temperature
  • Chemical
  • Expired Food
  • Sanitation

IsTheKitchenClean displays publicly available food inspection data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Trending rankings and summaries are automated interpretations of that data and are not official health department assessments. Inspection findings reflect conditions at a specific point in time and may not represent current conditions at a restaurant.

Birdman Ramen

Restaurant

800 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Lakeview

Jan 9, 2026 — Canvass inspection

Fail

A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

Employee ate in food prep area; no certified manager on site during food preparation.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Food employee found eating a sandwich in the prep area, with the sandwich stored above a cold-holding unit. A personal food item was also stored in a reach-in cooler.
  • No certified food safety manager was present at the start of inspection while eggs were being cooked, violating city requirements.
  • Food containers stored directly on floors in walk-in cooler and prep areas instead of on raised shelving, risking contamination.
  • Handwashing sink in basement prep area lacked both soap and paper towels; no handwashing signage posted in washroom.

Key findings are derived directly from the inspector's notes from the Chicago Department of Public Health. See the full violation notes below.

Was this report useful? Get an alert when this restaurant fails again, tell people what happened to you, or send the link to someone.

Be specific. Keep it to what you saw or experienced.

Loading discussion...

Violation code #6 — PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
Inspector's Notes:

FOUND A FOOD EMPLOYEE EATING IN SANDWICH IN PREP AREA PLACE SANDWICH ABOVE COLDHOLDING UNIT REAR PREP AREA. NOTED IN BASEMENT PREP OBSERVED PERSONAL FOOD ITEM STORED INSIDE REACH-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE. EMPLOYEES SHALL EAT AND DRINK ONLY IN DESIGNATED AREAS WHERE THE CONTAMINATION OF EXPOSED FOOD CANNOT RESULT.

Violation code #39 — CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER, PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.

Viewing inspection from Jan 9, 2026 · Show current spotlight →

Inspection History

Birdman Ramen has had 11 inspections in the last 5 years with a 36% pass rate. Last inspection was on Oct 5, 2026.

Standout inspection
Oct 5, 2026Fail

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

6 violations
Standout inspection
Aug 14, 2026Fail

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

5 violations
Standout inspection
Aug 7, 2026Fail

Short Form Complaint — A shorter, targeted check prompted by a public complaint.

2 violations
Mar 31, 2026Pass

Canvass Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

2 violations
Mar 31, 2026Pass

License Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm license-inspection violations were fixed.

Standout inspection
Mar 26, 2026Fail

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

4 violations
Mar 26, 2026Fail

License — Required before the city issues a business license.

Standout inspection
Jan 16, 2026Conditional

Canvass Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

11 violations
Standout inspection
Jan 9, 2026FailVIEWING NOW

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

21 violations
Feb 10, 2025Pass

License Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm license-inspection violations were fixed.

1 violation
Feb 5, 2025Fail

License — Required before the city issues a business license.

5 violations