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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.

Iron Age Chicago

Restaurant

1265 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Wicker Park

Aug 20, 2026 โ€” Complaint inspection

Fail

Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

Inspectors found over 500 rat droppings throughout the kitchen, prep areas, and dining room.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Severe rat infestation documented with over 500 droppings in kitchen prep, dishwashing, and customer dining areas.
  • Black slime dripping into ice machine used for human consumption; ice machine not properly cleaned or sanitized.
  • No chemical test kit available on-site for sanitizer verification during warewashing operations.
  • Food handler training certificates incomplete for staff; certified food service manager missing required allergen training documentation.

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 โ€” INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED PEST INFESTATION THROUGHOUT ESTABLISHMENT. OBSERVED OVER 500 RAT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN PREP, DISH WASHING AND CUSTOMER DINING AREA. MUST ELIMINATE ALL EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON PREMISES. MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-020(a). CITATION ISSUED.

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

OBSERVED BLACK SLIME DRIPPING ONTO ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION INSIDE OF ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Inspection History

Iron Age Chicago has had 17 inspections in the last 5 years with a 56% pass rate. Last inspection was on Sep 16, 2026.

Sep 16, 2026Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection โ€” A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

Standout inspection
Aug 20, 2026FailVIEWING NOW

Complaint โ€” Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

6 violations
Aug 11, 2026No Entry

Non-Inspection โ€” An administrative visit with no actual inspection performed.