China Express
4248 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
Restaurant ZIP 60609 Risk 1 (High)
Passed · as of Oct 5, 2026
China Express was last inspected on October 5, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 1 violation.
Latest inspection
October 5, 2026 · Canvass
Result: Pass
1 general-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Using Tin cans and grocery bags for food storage, Instructed to use proper utensils.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspection history
11 inspections on record
-
Pass
Canvass · Pass
2 general1 paperwork Show violations
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed all heavy equipment in prep area in need of cleaning (2 door cooler with cold hold attached, wok station as well as alongside fryer including coils. Instructed to remove grease build up and food debris and maintain equipment free of accumulated build up.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed large puddles of grease and food debris underneath wok station and fryers. Instructed to remove, clean and sanitize said area in order to prevent pest harborage.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to provide food handler training certification for all food employees and maintain on site for review.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
-
-
Pass
Canvass · Pass
5 general Show violations
-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.
Inspector’s note: Observed several large food containers with dry products. (rice, salt sugar, onion powder, pepper ) without proper common food name markings. Must label bulk and working food containers with contents common name. Must label food storage containers when food is not in original package.
Official wording (code 37)
Food properly labeled; original container
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Noted assorted food items inside coolers and refrigeration units stored inside grocery bags. Instructed to properly store all food items inside approved food grade containers or bags.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Noted some use of milk crates for elevation in the kitchen area, dishwashing area, and dry storage area. Instructed not to use milk crates for elevation to prevent hiding places for pest. Must provides appropriate shelving for storage. All food items must also be stored 6" away from the wall.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Noted excessive grease and food debris on the stove and around the works. Instructed to detail clean and maintain all cooking equipment, ingredient containers, racks, and shelving with flour, sugar, etc. And remove dust, grease, and dirt build-up throughout.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Noted heavy dirt and grease accumulation inside, on pipes/conduits, and edges of the exhaust hood and filters above cooking equipment. Instructed to detail clean and maintain hood, filters, and pipes/conduits.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
-
-
Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
3 general Show violations
-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: 3-305.11- observed food boxes stored on the floor inside walk in freezer. Instructed manager to elevate all food storage items six inches from the floor.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: 5-501.17-instructed manager to provide covered receptacle for employee toiler room.
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.12- must clean grease and food debris build up from floor under cooking equipment, walk in cooler and along wall bases throughout.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
-
Fail
Canvass · Fail
2 critical4 general1 paperwork Show violations
-
CriticalManagement & training
No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.
Inspector’s note: Observed no person in charge with valid chicago food sanitation certificate.
Official wording (code 1)
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
-
CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: Observed no adequate supplies on site to properly respond to vomit and/or diarrheal events . Instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-005.
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
-
GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Observed evidence of rodent activity on the premises. Observed approximately 40 mouse droppings on the floor of the rear storage area under the bulk dry ingredient containers. Management instructed to clean and remove all rodent droppings from all affected areas. Additional pest control service is needed to eliminate the pest activity. Priority foundation #7-38-020(a). Citation issued.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: Observed food boxes stored on the floor inside walk in freezer. Instructed manager to elevate all food storage items six inches from the floor.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: Instructed manager to provide covered receptacle for employee toiler room.
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must clean grease and food debris build up from floor under cooking equipment, walk in cooler and along wall bases throughout.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
PaperworkManagement & training
No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.
Inspector’s note: Observed facility without a valid city of chicago food service sanitation certificate posted onsite for food employees. Informed person in charge city of chicago original food service certificate must be posted along with the certified manager on site when time and temperature control for safety(tcs) foods are served. Priority foundation violation #7-38-012. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 2)
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
-
-
Pass
Canvass · Pass
4 general2 paperwork Show violations
-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.
Inspector’s note: Observed dry goods storage containers without name of item inside of the container; instructed to label containers with common name.
Official wording (code 37)
Food properly labeled; original container
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed the following in need of cleaning; clean and maintain: exterior surfaces of cooking equipment (fryers, wok station, hot holding unit), bottom of fryers to remove grease, exterior surfaces of refrigeration units, interiors of refrigeration units where needed, exterior surfaces of bulk storage containers.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the floors under cooking equipment, ceiling tile and vents to remove dust observed, light shields to remove dust observed, walls at mop sink area and behind cooking equipment.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the vents in the hooded system above cooking equipment.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: Found expired food handler certificates; instructed to have food handlers update certificates.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: Unable to produce two food allergen training certificates for two food service managers; instructed to have certificates on premises at all times.
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
-
-
Pass
Canvass · Pass
7 general Show violations
-
GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.
Inspector’s note: Must label food storage containers when food is not in original package.
Official wording (code 37)
Food properly labeled; original container
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Must remove rust from walk in cooler shelving units and lower shelves of prep tables.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must clean grease and food debris build up from fryer cabinets,steam table,prep tables,wok station,prep cooler,pipes of cooking equipment.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.
Inspector’s note: Must eliminate buckets used for garbage cans and provide garbage can with lid.
Official wording (code 54)
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must clean grease and food debris build up from floor under cooking equipment,walk in cooler and along wall bases throughout.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must repair or replace missing wall bases near rear door and where needed.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Must clean excessive grease build up at filters and hood of cooking equipment.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
-
-
Pass
Canvass · Pass
3 general Show violations
-
GeneralFood handling
Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.
Inspector’s note: Must properly store unused wiping cloths in adequate chemical sanitizing solution when not in use.
Official wording (code 41)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.
Inspector’s note: Must provide covered receptacles for washroom used by female employees.
Official wording (code 53)
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must clean floor along wall base, corners at rear under shelving.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
-
Conditional
Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions
3 critical1 general1 paperwork Show violations
-
CriticalManagement & training
Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.
Inspector’s note: No employee health policy on site at the time of inspection. Instructed to obtain and maintain. Priority foundation #7-38-010
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
-
CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: No vomit or diarrhea procedure on site at time of inspection. Instructed to obtain and no citation issued maintain. Priority foundation #7-38-005
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
-
CriticalFood temperature
Prepared food wasn’t date-marked, or was kept past its discard date.
Inspector’s note: Variety of foods not properly labeled ( ,fish, chicken, cooked beef, etc.) stored inside the walk in and front prep reach in cooler. Food prepared and held for more than 24 hours shall be properly labeled to indicate the day or date in which the food shall be discarded. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005
Official wording (code 23)
Proper date marking and disposition
-
GeneralFood handling
Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.
Inspector’s note: Found no wiping cloths stored in sanitation solution. Instructed to provide and maintain
Official wording (code 41)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: All certified food service sanitation managers employed by a restaurant must receive or obtain training in basic allergen awareness principles within 30 days after employment and every 3 years thereafter. Training programs must be accredited by the American National Standards Institute or another reputable accreditation agency under the ASTM International E2659-09 (Standard Practice for Certificate Programs).
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
-
-
Pass
License · Pass
2 general Show violations
-
GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector’s note: Clean floors under shelving unit and cooler in front west storage area.
-
GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector’s note: Clean ceiling vent above walk-in cooler(dust buildup).
-
-
Not Ready
License · Not Ready
No violations
More in ZIP 60609
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 4 weeks ago. Always confirm with the official record.