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.

China Doll

Restaurant

1246 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610

Old Town

Sep 14, 2022 — Complaint inspection

Fail

Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

Inspectors found 34 rodent droppings in basement and live roaches in restrooms.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • 14 rodent droppings found near sump pump in basement and 20 more behind freezers; 2 live roaches spotted in customer restrooms.
  • Black slime buildup inside ice machine used to produce ice for human consumption.
  • Walk-in cooler door has torn gasket; cutting boards deeply grooved and stained; can opener covered in food debris and grime.
  • No covered trash receptacles in any of the four restrooms; grease and food debris buildup behind cook line equipment; dust accumulation on ceiling panels around prep area vent.

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 #38 — INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON SITE: OBSERVED 14 RODENT DROPPINGS IN BASEMENT NEAR SUMP PUMP AND ANOTHER 20 DROPPINGS BEHIND BOX FREEZERS ALSO IN BASEMENT. ADDITIONALLY OBSERVED 2 LIVE ROACHES IN CUSTOMER RESTROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DROPPINGS AND LIVE ROACHES, RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN PREMISES FREE OF PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Violation code #16 — FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED BUILD UP OF BLACK SLIME ON INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE USED TO PRODUCE ICE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN, SANITIZE, AND MAINTAIN FREE OF SLIME. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Viewing inspection from Sep 14, 2022 · Show current spotlight →

Inspection History

China Doll has had 17 inspections in the last 5 years with a 53% pass rate. Last inspection was on Jun 12, 2026.

Jun 12, 2026Pass

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

Standout inspection
Jun 11, 2026Fail

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

14 violations
Dec 11, 2025Pass

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

6 violations
Standout inspection
Nov 24, 2025Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

12 violations
Jul 14, 2025Pass

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

2 violations
Standout inspection
Jul 7, 2025Fail

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

15 violations
Jan 14, 2025Pass

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

Standout inspection
Jan 7, 2025Fail

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

6 violations
May 6, 2024Conditional

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

6 violations
Standout inspection
Apr 29, 2024Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

11 violations
Standout inspection
Jan 4, 2024Conditional

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

13 violations
Jan 18, 2023Pass

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

8 violations
Sep 30, 2022Conditional

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

1 violation
Standout inspection
Sep 21, 2022Fail

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

8 violations
Standout inspection
Sep 14, 2022FailVIEWING NOW

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

9 violations
Nov 24, 2021Pass

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

1 violation
Oct 27, 2021Fail

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

2 violations