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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.

Sze Chuan Alley

Restaurant

3141 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608

South Loop

Aug 4, 2026 — Canvass re-inspection

Pass

A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

Raw chicken thawed improperly in standing water in prep areas and basement.

Key Findings

  • Raw chicken found thawing in still water in sinks in main prep area and basement instead of using proper methods like running cold water or overnight cooling.
  • Unlabeled bulk dry ingredient storage containers found on lower shelf under prep table.
  • Plastic cup stored inside dry ingredient container; staff instructed to use handled utensils for transfers.
  • Floors throughout facility needed cleaning, including under cooking equipment and prep tables, with standing water in basement. Shelves under prep tables also dirty.

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 #35 — APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
Inspector's Notes:

3-501.12: OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING METHOD FOR TCS FOODS. FOUND IN THE MAIN PREP AREA AND IN THE BASEMENT RAW CHICKEN FOUND IN STILL WATER IN SINKS IN MENTIONED AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO USE PROPER THAWING METHODS SUCH AS RUNNING COLD WATER, CLEANING FOOD ITEMS IN SMALLER BATCHES, AND PLACING FOOD ITEMS IN COOLERS OVER NIGHT.

Violation code #37 — FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
Inspector's Notes:

3-302.12: OBSERVED BULK DRY INGREDIENT STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT LABELED ON THE LOWER SHELF UNDER THE PREP TABLE IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL WITH COMMON FOOD NAME.

Inspection History

Sze Chuan Alley has had 4 inspections in the last 5 years with a 75% pass rate. Last inspection was on Aug 4, 2026.

Aug 4, 2026PassVIEWING NOW

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

6 violations
Jul 28, 2026Fail

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

8 violations
Jul 10, 2025Conditional

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

10 violations