CHICAGO, IL - Health department officials identified compliance issues at SHAW'S CRAB HOUSE in an inspection dated 04/13/2023.
Situated at 21 E HUBBARD ST, the establishment is part of River North's active food service sector. The River North area undergoes regular health inspections as part of the city's comprehensive food safety monitoring program.
The inspection identified 4 distinct violations requiring correction. These findings represent specific conditions observed during the inspection that must be addressed to meet health code requirements.
The first violation involved handwashing procedures. Inspectors documented: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: Obstructed hand wash sink at salad station, found large knives stored in the hand sink, instructed to keep all hand wash sink free from any obstruction. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c). According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. The CDC identifies poor hand hygiene as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks.
The second violation involved hand sanitation. Inspectors documented: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: No paper towels provided at pastry hand wash sink and employees restrooms. instructed to provide. Priority foundation violation.. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. Fecal-oral transmission of pathogens occurs when hands are not properly washed after restroom use.
The third violation related to thermal management. Inspectors documented: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: Found 4 lbs of cooked crab meat bags at 52.3f sitting in stagnate water at room temperature. instructed to keep all TCS foods at 41f or lower. Priority violation 7-38-005. food discarded valued at $150.. The FDA Food Code requires cold foods to be held at 41°F or below and hot foods at 135°F or above to prevent bacterial growth in the "danger zone." For more information, see FDA guidelines on temperature control. The CDC reports that temperature abuse is a factor in many foodborne illness outbreaks.
The fourth violation related to temperature control. Inspectors documented: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED - Comments: Improper thawing for sea food, cooked crab meat being thawed in stagnate water at room temperature. instructed to thaw according to health code.. The FDA Food Code requires cold foods to be held at 41°F or below and hot foods at 135°F or above to prevent bacterial growth in the "danger zone." For more information, see FDA guidelines on temperature control. Time-temperature abuse allows harmful bacteria to multiply to levels that can cause illness.
Establishments receiving violations must submit correction plans and may face additional inspections. Failure to address violations can result in fines, permit suspension, or closure.
This inspection data is provided by Chicago Department of Public Health. The establishment had violations identified during the 04/13/2023 inspection. Conditions may have changed since this inspection. For current compliance status, consult the Chicago Department of Public Health. For more information about restaurant inspection regulations in this area, visit the Chicago Food Service Sanitation Rules. Learn more about food safety at FDA.gov and CDC.gov.
This inspection was conducted on August 21, 2025.
Chicago Department of Public Health
The following violations were documented: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK AT OYSTER BAR (ALCOHOL SERVICE BAR) AREA MISSING HANDWASHING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE TO ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.; PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Comments: OBSERVED COOKED SHRIMP TIGHTLY-COVERED IN FOOD-GRADE PLASTIC WRAP IN REAR SHELLFISH WALK-IN COOLER WHILE COOLING. INSTRUCTED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS UNCOVERED OR LOOSELY-COVERED (IF PROTECTED FROM OVERHEAD CONTAMINATION) WHILE COOLING AND MAINTAIN.; THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE - Comments: OBSERVED COOLER IN THE OYSTER BAR AREA MISSING INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER WHILE STORING TCS FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN A CONSPICUOUS AND EASILY-VIEWABLE LOCATION IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS USED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED INSECT CONTROL DEVICE INSTALLED DIRECTLY ABOVE CLEAN EQUIPMENT IN THE SUSHI PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE INSECT CONTROL DEVICE SO THAT IT IS NOT ABOVE OPEN FOOD, EQUIPMENT, OR SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES AND MAINTAIN.; IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: OBSERVED IN-USE SPATULAS AND LADLES STORED IN CONTAINER OF WATER AT 120.0F AT THE MAIN COOK LINE HOT HOLDING STATION. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN-USE UTENSILS IN WATER MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 135.0F AND ABOVE BETWEEN USES.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: OBSERVED ICE BIN (NOT IN-USE) STORED UNCOVERED AT THE SALAD PREP STATION NEXT TO OPEN HANDWASHING SINK, WHERE FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT ARE EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL SPLASH OR SPILLAGE. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE ICE BIN AND STORE ALL EQUIPMENT WHERE IT IS PROTECTED FROM SPLASH OR SPILLAGE AND MAINTAIN.; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF BOTH ICE MACHINES IN ICE MACHINE AREA TO BE SOILED WITH RUST AND OTHER DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.; ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK AT OYSTER BAR (ALCOHOL SERVICE BAR) AREA MISSING HANDWASHING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE TO ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.; COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS/HACCP - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD STAFF UTILIZING VINEGAR AS AN ADDITIVE TO SUSHI RICE FOR PURPOSE OF FOOD PRESERVATION WITHOUT LETTER FROM A CERTIFIED LAB, VERIFYING THE pH OF THE SUSHI OR ADEQUATE pH METER ON-SITE CAPABLE OF ACCURATELY DETERMINING pH OF SUSHI RICE AFTER MODIFICATION. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN LETTER OF APPROVAL FROM CERTIFIED LAB OR OBTAIN ADEQUATE pH METER AND STAFF TRAINING TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE pH OF SUSHI RICE AFTER MODIFICATION AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.; VARIANCE OBTAINED FOR SPECIALIZED PROCESSING METHODS - Comments: SEE VIOLATION #29; PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Comments: OBSERVED COOKED SHRIMP TIGHTLY-COVERED IN FOOD-GRADE PLASTIC WRAP IN REAR SHELLFISH WALK-IN COOLER WHILE COOLING. INSTRUCTED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS UNCOVERED OR LOOSELY-COVERED (IF PROTECTED FROM OVERHEAD CONTAMINATION) WHILE COOLING AND MAINTAIN.; THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE - Comments: OBSERVED COOLER IN THE OYSTER BAR AREA MISSING INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER WHILE STORING TCS FOOD ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN A CONSPICUOUS AND EASILY-VIEWABLE LOCATION IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS USED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED INSECT CONTROL DEVICE INSTALLED DIRECTLY ABOVE CLEAN EQUIPMENT IN THE SUSHI PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE INSECT CONTROL DEVICE SO THAT IT IS NOT ABOVE OPEN FOOD, EQUIPMENT, OR SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES AND MAINTAIN.; IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: OBSERVED IN-USE SPATULAS AND LADLES STORED IN CONTAINER OF WATER AT 120.0F AT THE MAIN COOK LINE HOT HOLDING STATION. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN-USE UTENSILS IN WATER MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 135.0F AND ABOVE BETWEEN USES.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: OBSERVED ICE BIN (NOT IN-USE) STORED UNCOVERED AT THE SALAD PREP STATION NEXT TO OPEN HANDWASHING SINK, WHERE FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT ARE EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL SPLASH OR SPILLAGE. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE ICE BIN AND STORE ALL EQUIPMENT WHERE IT IS PROTECTED FROM SPLASH OR SPILLAGE AND MAINTAIN.; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF BOTH ICE MACHINES IN ICE MACHINE AREA TO BE SOILED WITH RUST AND OTHER DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.; ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: Obstructed hand wash sink at salad station, found large knives stored in the hand sink, instructed to keep all hand wash sink free from any obstruction. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c); ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: No paper towels provided at pastry hand wash sink and employees restrooms. instructed to provide. Priority foundation violation.; PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: Found 4 lbs of cooked crab meat bags at 52.3f sitting in stagnate water at room temperature. instructed to keep all TCS foods at 41f or lower. Priority violation 7-38-005. food discarded valued at $150.; APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED - Comments: Improper thawing for sea food, cooked crab meat being thawed in stagnate water at room temperature. instructed to thaw according to health code..
The CDC identifies poor hand hygiene as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks. Fecal-oral transmission of pathogens occurs when hands are not properly washed after restroom use. The CDC reports that temperature abuse is a factor in many foodborne illness outbreaks. Time-temperature abuse allows harmful bacteria to multiply to levels that can cause illness.
This inspection data is sourced directly from Chicago Department of Public Health. For the most current information, please visit the official health department website.
Federal Guidelines: Our reporting follows standards established by the FDA Food Code, CDC Food Safety Guidelines, and USDA Food Safety Standards.
📖 Food Safety Codes: Reference the specific regulations that govern this establishment: Chicago Food Code, FDA Food Code 2022
⚠️ Important Note: Restaurant conditions can change rapidly. This inspection represents a snapshot in time and may not reflect current conditions. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking recent reviews or contacting the establishment directly.
View all health inspections, pass rates, and violation history for SHAW'S CRAB HOUSE
View Business Profile →