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Inspections by Violation

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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

Nov 24, 2025 — Complaint inspection

Fail

Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

Live roaches and rat droppings found throughout kitchen and storage areas.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Over 5 live roaches on kitchen prep counter and over 20 rat droppings in electrical unit; 10 rat droppings in basement storage.
  • Multiple ready-to-eat foods stored at unsafe temperatures (45-52°F instead of 41°F or below); 70 lbs of food was discarded.
  • Service cooler maintained improper temperature of 52.5°F; equipment ordered out of service until repaired.
  • No sanitizer test strips available to verify proper dishwashing sanitizer strength; dirty wiping cloths improperly stored.

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

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

6-501.111 NOTED OVER 5 LIVE ROACHES ON COUNTER AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND OVER 20 RAT DROPPING ON FLOOR INSIDE THE ELECTRICAL UNIT AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND 10 RAT DROPPINGS ON FLOOR ALONG WALL BASE OF THE BASEMENT FOOD/DRY STORAGE. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS, ELIMINATE PEST ACTIVITY. INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT WITH PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND HAVE PREMISES TREATED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A).

Violation code #48 — WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
Inspector's Notes:

NOTED NO SANITIZER TEST STRIP KIT ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A TEST STRIP KIT ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE STRENGTH OF THE SANITIZER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION# 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

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, 2025FailVIEWING NOW

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, 2022Fail

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