CHICAGO, IL - Health department officials identified compliance problems at Shanghai Inn Restaurant during an inspection on 07/29/2025.
The establishment operates from 4723 N Damen Avenue Chicago Illinois in Ravenswood, a busy area of Chicago known for its dining scene.
The inspection report documents: "3. Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting - comments: no written employee health policy on site for all employees. All foods throughout cooler and freezer must be properly protected, covered, ..." Health officials note that these violations need attention to maintain proper compliance.
Inspectors documented deficiencies involving pest control, an essential component of restaurant operations.
Food safety professionals regularly stress the essential nature of adequate pest control procedures. As outlined in FDA Food Code Standards, The FDA Food Code mandates that food storage areas remain free from pest contamination at all times. These federal guidelines guarantee that restaurants adhere to strict health requirements.
Among the findings were infractions involving sanitation, a key component of food safety protocols.
Sanitation violations encompass a broad spectrum of cleanliness and maintenance issues that affect food safety Research conducted by federal health agencies demonstrates that The FDA Food Code establishes comprehensive sanitation requirements that form the foundation of safe food service operations. The FDA Sanitation Standards provides comprehensive guidance for preventing such violations.
Among the findings were infractions involving temperature control, a key component of food safety protocols.
Public health authorities continually highlight the fundamental significance of comprehensive temperature control practices. Studies from public health organizations show that Temperature abuse remains the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings. The HACCP Temperature Monitoring offers detailed requirements for maintaining compliance.
These types of violations require attention to maintain compliance standards for the establishment and its customers. Health officials note that addressing such conditions helps maintain public confidence in food service establishments.
Under current regulations, Shanghai Inn Restaurant faces additional penalties if violations are not promptly corrected. The health department maintains detailed records of all inspection results for public transparency.
These findings underscore the essential nature of comprehensive health compliance in restaurant operations. Community members should feel empowered to examine health department findings when choosing restaurants.
| Inspection ID | 2621467 |
| DBA Name | SHANGHAI INN RESTAURANT |
| AKA Name | SHANGHAI INN RESTAURANT |
| License # | 2754111 |
| Facility Type | Restaurant |
| Risk | Risk 1 (High) |
| Address | 4723 N DAMEN AVE |
| City | CHICAGO |
| State | IL |
| Zip | 60625 |
| Inspection Date | 07/29/2025 |
| Inspection Type | Canvass |
| Results | Fail |
| Violations | 3. MANAGEMENT |
| RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING - Comments | NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE VERIFICATION (SIGNATURES) ALL EMPLOYEES ARE AWARE OF HEALTH POLICY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED. | 15. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED - Comments: ALL FOODS THROUGHOUT COOLER AND FREEZER MUST BE PROPERLY PROTECTED |
| WRAPPED. | 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments | THE FOLLOWING TCS FOODS HELD IN THE KITCHEN TWO DOOR TALL REACH-IN COOLER AT INADEQUATE TEMPERATURES: SHRIMP AT 47.1F |
| COOKED CHICKEN AT 47.8F. ALL FOODS DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED. | 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Comments | KITCHEN TWO DOOR TALL REACH-IN COOLER UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TEMPERATURE. COOLER NOTED AT 51.6 WITH FOOD SUCH AS SHRIMP AT 47.1. COOLER TAGGED 'HELD FOR INSPECTION' AND MUST NOT USE UNTIL REPAIRED AND MAINTAINS A TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED. | 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED. | 38. INSECTS |
| & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments | OBSERVED OVER 100 RAT DROPPINGS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN: UNDER THE WOKS LINE |
| SANITIZE ALL AREAS AND HAVE PEST CONTROL CO. SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT FOR RODENTS. ELIMINATE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED. | 41. WIPING CLOTHS | PROPERLY USED & STORED - Comments: PREP AREA WIPING CLOTHS MUST BE HELD IN A CONTAINER WITH A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USE. | 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: ICE SCOOP MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN CONTAINER BETWEEN USE.---NOTED FOOD ENCRUSTED TABLE TOP CAN OPENER. MUST CLEAN AFTER EACH USE. | 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED - Comments: ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY INCLUDING THE FRONT DINING ROOM SERVER STATION MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS. | 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE |
| CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments | MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY INCLUDING THE BASEMENT BOX FREEZER STORAGE. FLOORS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR CLEANING AND MONITORING AT ALL TIMES. | 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: ALL COOKS LINE EQUIPMENT WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE AND ENCRUSTED FOOD DEBRIS.----INTERIOR OF ALL COOLERS AND FREEZERS THROUGHOUT WITH FOOD DEBRIS.----EXTERIOR OF ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS WITH ENCRUSTED FOOD DEBRIS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL. | 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD AS LINER FOR SHELVING THROUGHOUT OR STRING AS SHELVING GUARDS. PROVIDE A EASILY CLEANABLE NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE. | 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: LEAK FROM DISPENSING CHEMICAL TUBING INTO A PLASTIC CONTAINER ON TOP OF THE DISH MACHINE. MUST REPAIR. | 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LOCATED ON THE ICE MACHINE. MUST INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTER ON THE MACHINE. | 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED |
| MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments | ALL FLOORS AND WALLS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FACILITY WITH ACCUMULATED DIRT |
| MOLDY WALL CAULKING AT THE DISH MACHINE TWO COMPARTMENT SINK MUST BE REPLACED.----MUST PROVIDE A SMOOTH CLEANABLE CEILING ABOVE ALL BASEMENT BOX FREEZERS AND MUST NOT STORE UNDER WASTE WATER PIPING IN BASEMENT. | 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments | NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES FOR ALL KITCHEN EMPLOYEES TWO CERTIFICATES NEEDED. MUST PROVIDE. | 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2604469 ON 10-10-24 NOT CORRECTED. #47- 4-501.11--OBSERVED A TORN DOOR GASKET INSIDE OF THE KITCHEN 2 DOOR STAND-UP COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE TORN DOOR GASKET AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. |
| Latitude | 41.96761495890106 |
| Longitude | -87.67900579440833 |
| Location | (41.96761495890106 |
This inspection was conducted on July 29, 2025.
Chicago Department of Public Health
The following violations were found: pest-control, sanitation, temperature-control.
Health code violations can increase the risk of foodborne illness. Common concerns include improper food temperatures (which can allow bacteria growth), inadequate handwashing facilities (which can spread germs), pest activity (which can contaminate food), and cross-contamination risks. These violations are monitored by health departments to ensure public safety and prevent foodborne illness outbreaks.
All inspection data for this report is sourced directly from the Chicago Department of Public Health . View the original data source .
Food safety standards referenced in this report are based on:
Important Note: This article is based on official inspection reports at the time of inspection. Current conditions may differ. Always check the most recent inspection results before dining. Establishments have the opportunity to correct violations and request re-inspection.
