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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.

South China Kitchen Inc.

Restaurant

11631 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60628

Far South Side

Aug 15, 2023 โ€” Complaint inspection

Fail

Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

Multiple prior violations not corrected, including food stored on floors and equipment caked with grease buildup.

Key Findings

  • Previous inspection violations from February 2022 were not corrected or maintained, triggering a priority foundation violation citation.
  • Food items found stored directly on floors in walk-in coolers and freezers; open food stored in grocery bags instead of proper containers.
  • Cooking equipment, coolers, prep tables, and shelving units had accumulated food debris and grease buildup throughout the facility.
  • Employees working in food prep areas were not wearing hair restraints; floors had debris and grease buildup, and walk-in freezer lacked lighting.

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 #40 โ€” PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
Inspector's Notes:

FOUND EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO WEAR AS WELL AS THE OTHER EMPLOYEES, A HAIR RESTRAINT WHEN IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. MAINTAIN SAME.

Violation code #60 โ€” PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
Inspector's Notes:

FOUND THE PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #2549625 (REINSPECTION OF REPORT #2549302 ON 02/02/2022) DATED 02/09/2022 NOT CORRECTED AND/OR MAINTAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN: #37-OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS NOT PROPERLY LABELED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO LABEL ALL BULK CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME OF FOOD. #39-OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN WALK-IN COOLER AND FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR. #41-OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES. #47-OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINERS ON SHELVING UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE. ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES SHALL BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. #47-OBSERVED OPEN FOOD STORED IN GROCERY BAGS INSIDE PREP COOLER, WALK-IN COOLER AND WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE IN FOOD GRADE BAGS OR CONTAINERS. #49-OBSERVED ACCUMULATED FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE BUILDUP ON INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT, COOLERS, FREEZERS, PREP TABLES, HOLDING UNITS, SHELVING UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. #53-OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. #55-OBSERVED ACCUMULATED FOOD DEBRIS AND GREASE BUILDUP ON FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, STORAGE, UTILITY AND WASHROOM AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. #56-OBSERVED NO LIGHT INSIDE WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND MAINTAIN. #58-OBSERVED NO VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED

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Inspection History

South China Kitchen Inc. has had 13 inspections in the last 5 years with a 58% pass rate. Last inspection was on Sep 18, 2026.

Sep 18, 2026Conditional

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

1 violation
Sep 10, 2026Fail

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

7 violations
Apr 7, 2026Pass

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

4 violations
Standout inspection
Mar 30, 2026Fail

Canvass โ€” A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

8 violations
Sep 11, 2025Pass

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

3 violations
Aug 27, 2025No Entry

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

Feb 3, 2025Pass

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

5 violations
Standout inspection
Jan 23, 2025Fail

Canvass โ€” A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

11 violations
Mar 7, 2024Pass

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

10 violations
Aug 22, 2023Pass

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

Aug 15, 2023FailVIEWING NOW

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

2 violations
Feb 9, 2022Pass

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

11 violations
Standout inspection
Feb 2, 2022Fail

Canvass โ€” A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

15 violations