Pass

China Dragon

1737 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

Restaurant ZIP 60608 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Aug 6, 2026

China Dragon was last inspected on August 6, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 8 violations.

Latest inspection

August 6, 2026 · Complaint

Pass

Result: Pass

8 general
  • GeneralFood temperature

    Frozen food was thawed the wrong way.

    Inspector’s note: Observed 2 bags of shrimp that were being thawed in standing water. Instructed manager to thaw under cold running water or to thaw in walk in cooler under refrigeration. Correct and maintain

    Official wording (code 35)

    Approved thawing methods used

  • GeneralFood handling

    Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

    Inspector’s note: All bulk food containers in need of lids and commodity name. Instructed to correct and maintain

    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: All reach in cooler tracks in need of detail cleaning to remove all food spills and build up instructed to detail clean and maintain

    Official wording (code 47)

    Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

    Inspector’s note: All cooking woks in need of detail cleaning to remove all food spills and build up. Instructed to detail clean and maintain

    Official wording (code 49)

    Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

    Inspector’s note: The food catch all in need of cleaning to remove all food spills and build up. All screens in need of cleaning to remove food spills clean and maintain

    Official wording (code 49)

    Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

    Inspector’s note: 1 of 2 faucets on 3 compartment sink in need of repair. Handle stripped instructed to correct and maintain

    Official wording (code 51)

    Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Floors throughout prep area in need of cleaning to remove all food spills and build up. Instructed to clean under and around all equipment, and clean under and around all prep tables clean and maintain

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: Hood vent in need of cleaning, filtrs in need of cleaning, all areas around filters. Instructed to clean and maintain hood vent free from grease and build up.

    Official wording (code 56)

    Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspection history

6 inspections on record

  1. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    4 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

      Inspector’s note: 3-307.11: observed ice scoop improperly stored on top of ice machine. Instructed to properly store in a bin/clean container and maintain.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(b): observed the shelves under the food prep tables with crumbs and in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-201.11: observed a hole in the stair leading to the rear dry storage area. Instructed to seal mentioned hole to prevent potential harborage points for pest and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-501.13: observed the floors under the cooking equipment and shelves in the front prep area in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: 2-102.13: observed no food handler certificates on site. Instructed all food handlers must take course and maintain records on site.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  2. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    4 critical5 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hands weren’t washed properly or when required.

      Inspector’s note: Observed improper handwashing procedure. Observed one employee rinse hands with no soap and dry them off on apron, second employee dried hands on apron, and lastly another employee rinsed hands with gloves on. Instructed manager to discuss proper handwashing procedures with food handlers: wash bare hands with soap, water, and dry with an appropriate drying provision (paper towel). Priority violation 7-38-010, citation issued.

      Official wording (code 8)

      Hands clean & properly washed

    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Observed improper dishwashing in three-compartment sink. Found two employees washing a big strainer and a bowl in the 3-compartment sink without setting it up to wash, rinse, and sanitize as required by the code. Instructed management to set up the sink when washing equipment. The manager immediately had employee set up the three-compartment sink to wash, rinse, and sanitize using the chlorine. Priority violation 7-38-005, citaton issued

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Hot food was held below a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Observed improper hot holding temperatures of tcs foods. Found two containers of fried crab rangoons on a speed rack at impoper hot holding temperatures ranged from 86.1f-104.0f. Manager voluntarily discarded approximately 16 lbs of food worth $65. Instructed to hold hot tcs foods at 135°f or above. Priority violation 7-38-005, citation issued

      Official wording (code 21)

      Proper hot holding temperatures

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Observed improper cold holding temperatures of tcs foods throughout the facility. Two containers of raw beef (52.3f-59.2f) on the drain board of the three compartment sink, raw beef inside the three door refrigerator (52.0f), a container of fried chicken (63.0f) inside walk-in cooler, a container of diced ham (55.0f) inside a prep cooler, and 65 eggs found out at room temperature at 61.0f-63.9f. Approximately 45 lbs of food worth $178 was discarded. Must have cold holding foods at 41.0°f or below. Priority 7-38-005 citation consolidated with violation #21.

      Official wording (code 22)

      Proper cold holding temperatures

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Observed approximately 50 or more mice droppings on site during inspection. Mice droppings were found on the floors in the following areas: in the rear dishwashing area, under the shelves in the rear dry storage area, under the drainboard of the three-compartment sink, in the basement, in the employee toilet room, surrounding the mop sink, and behind the ice machine. The surfaces mice droppings were found were in the crevices of the shelves in the dry storage area and on the lower shelf under a food prep table. Instructed to remove mice droppings, clean, and sanitize. Recommend contacting pest control. Priority foundation violation 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 ice scoop improperly stored on top of ice machine. Instructed to properly store in a bin/clean container and maintain.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the shelves under the food prep tables with crumbs and in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the floors under the cooking equipment and shelves in the front prep area in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed a hole in the stair leading to the rear dry storage area. Instructed to seal mentioned hole to prevent potential harborage points for pest and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no food handler certificates on site. Instructed all food handlers must take course and maintain records on site.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  3. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical5 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Observed approximately 10 lbs tcs food of chicken at improper cold temp of 58.9 f at back prep table. Instructed the person in charge that all cold-held food must be at 41.0 f or below. Pic voluntarily discarded and denatured 10 lbs of chicken at $35. Priority violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 22)

      Proper cold holding temperatures

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

      Inspector’s note: Observed food stored in containers on dry storage racks without proper labeling of names (pinnuts and cashews). Instructed to person in charge to provide a label reflecting the food item's name when food has been remove from its original packaging.

      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: Observed cutting boards with deep open seams. Must refinish or replace damaged or stained cutting boards.

      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 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 dirty and dusty ceiling tileabove cooking line. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Noted heavy clutter throughout establishment on shelves, floors inside unused equipment and in storage areas. Instructed to detail clean, organize and remove all unnecessary or unused articles and equipment to prevent hiding places for pest. Must upgrade housing keeping.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  4. Pass

    License Re-Inspection · Pass

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: 4-301.16 found no food prep sink in front food prep area where smoothies are made, must provide.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-501.114 found a low-temperature dish machine in the rear prep. The manager states they will no longer use it. Instructed manager to repair and maintain or remove the unnecessary item.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: 6-501.114 found single service containers, and freezer located in basement. Management states it belongs to landlord. Instructed manager to remove all unnecessary items.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  5. Fail

    License · Fail

    1 critical5 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Found low-temperature dish machine inadequately sanitizing dishes at 0 ppm. Instructed manager to provide a sanitizing solution to sanitize dishes per manufacturer's instructions adequately. Low-temperature dish machine tagged and held for inspection by the chicago department of public health. Instructed manager to no longer use dish machine until it is re-inspected by cdph and at an adequate sanitizing solution of 50 - 100 ppm. Priority violation. 7-38-025.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Found approx 50 mouse droppings in the following areas: 10 (front prep under prep table across from the station), 10 (in the corner of the floor next to fryer) and 30 droppings under 3 door reach in cooler located at back of cooler behind grate. Found approx. 4 large flies in the rear food prep area. Also noted approx 2 small flies located in the front prep area. And 4 small flies located in the front prep area/ dining area. Instructed manager to minimize all fly activity. Recommended contacting pest control. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-020(a).

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Found 1/4 inch at bottom of rear exit door. Must provide closed tight-fitting doors at all times.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found no food prep sink in front food prep area where smoothies are made, must provide.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found a low-temperature dish machine in the rear prep. The manager states they will no longer use it. Instructed manager to repair and maintain or remove the unnecessary item.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found single service containers, and freezer located in basement. Management states it belongs to landlord. Instructed manager to remove all unnecessary items.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

More in ZIP 60608

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 3 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.