Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya

• resultPass w/ Conditions
• critical violations1
• last inspectedDecember 21, 2023
• address1538 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago 60610

Is Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya clean?

Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya is currently Pass w/ Conditions from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on December 21, 2023. Inspectors wrote up 1 critical violation — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads mid 😬.

What did inspectors find at Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on December 21, 2023, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 📋certified manager paperwork missingcritical
  City Of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate • THE PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENTATION OF PENDING CITY CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION WHILE TCS FOODS SUCH AS RAW CHICKEN COOKED AND SERVED ON-SITE. NO OTHER ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WAS POSTED NOR PROVIDED ON-SITE FOR THE PRESENT MANAGER ON DUTY. NO VALID DOCCUMENTATION ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A LEAST ONE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN TCS FOOD IS COOKED AND SERVED ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
• 🧽surfaces not properly sanitized
  Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized • OBSERVED SODA CAP NOZZLE SOILED IN BAR AREA. FACILITY MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
• 🧊food not cooled down right
  Proper Date Marking And Disposition • DID NOT OBSERVE EXPIRATION/DISCARD/USE-BY-DATES ON PREPARED FOODS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER AND REACH-IN COOLER UNDER THE COOKLINE (CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS). PERSON IN CHARGE VERIFIED WHEN FOODS WERE MADE AND PROVIDED PROPER DATE LABELING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED. • OBSERVED PREPARED PORK WITH A USE-BY-DATE/DISCARD DATE OF 12/9/23 AND PREPARED GARLIC PASTE WITH A USE-BY-DATE/DISCARD OF 1/10/24. APPROXIMATELY 2LBS OF PORK AND 1LB OF GARLIC PASTE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $25 DICARDED ON SITE. ALL PRE-PARED FOODS ON SITE MUST HAVE A USE-BY-DATE/DISCARD/EXPIRATION DATE OF A MAX OF 7DAYS AND HELD BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
• 🏷️food improperly labeled
  Food Properly Labeled; Original Container • DRY STORAGE SEASONING CONTAINERS DOES NOT HAVE A LABEL. FACILITY MUST PROVIDE.
• 🧻grimy wiping cloths
  Wiping Cloths: Properly Used & Stored • IN-USE WIPING CLOTHS ARE NOT STORED PROPERLY. FOUND PREP COOKLINE COUNTER. CLOTHS USED TO WIPE SURFACES AND EQUIPMENT SHALL BE HELD IN A PROPER SANITIZER SOLUTION. CLOTHS IN-USE FOR WIPING SURFACES IN CONTACT WITH RAW ANIMAL FOODS SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM CLOTHS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IN-USE CLOTHS MUST BE LAUNDERED DAILIY.
• ⚠️In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored • UTENSILS STORED IN STAGNANT CUPS OF WATER IN COOKLINE AREA. STORE IN-USE UTENSILS: 1) IN THE FOOD WITH THE HANDLE UP AND OUT OF THE FOOD ITEM; 2) STORED ON A CLEAN AND SANITIZED SIRFACE; 3) IN RUNNING WATER; 4) IN CONTAINER OF HOT WATER MAINTAINED AT OR ABOVE 135F.
  In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored • UTENSILS STORED IN STAGNANT CUPS OF WATER IN COOKLINE AREA. STORE IN-USE UTENSILS: 1) IN THE FOOD WITH THE HANDLE UP AND OUT OF THE FOOD ITEM; 2) STORED ON A CLEAN AND SANITIZED SIRFACE; 3) IN RUNNING WATER; 4) IN CONTAINER OF HOT WATER MAINTAINED AT OR ABOVE 135F.
• ⚠️Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled • OBSERVED CLEAN UTENSILS SUCH AS SPOONS AND CHOP STICKS OUT ON DISPLAY IS NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION AT CUSTOMER TABLES. UTENSILS MUST BE COVERED AND/OR WRAPED CLEAN UTENSILS SHALL BE HANDLED, DISPLAYED, AND DISPENSED SO THAT FOOD AND LIP CONTACT SURFACES ARE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.
  Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled • OBSERVED CLEAN UTENSILS SUCH AS SPOONS AND CHOP STICKS OUT ON DISPLAY IS NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION AT CUSTOMER TABLES. UTENSILS MUST BE COVERED AND/OR WRAPED CLEAN UTENSILS SHALL BE HANDLED, DISPLAYED, AND DISPENSED SO THAT FOOD AND LIP CONTACT SURFACES ARE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.
• 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to code
  Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used • CUTTING BOARDS ARE SERVERELY SCRATCHED AND SOILED WHICH PREVENTS PROPER CLEANING AND SANITIZING OF EQUIPMENT. FACILITY MUST RESURFACE BOARD OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARD IN COOKLINE AREA.
• ⚠️Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips • EQUIPMENT (LARGE COOKING POTS) USED IN THE FACILITY IS TOO LARGE TO FIT AND FULLY IMMERSE WITHIN THE COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. FACILITY MUST INSTALL A LARGER 3COMPARTMENT SINKTHAT WILL ALLOW ALL EQUIPMENT TO BE IMMERSED, USE SMALLER EQUIPMENT THAT CAN FIT IN THE EXISTING 3 COMPARTMENT SINK OR USE AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF MANUAL WAREWASHING APPROVED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
  Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips • EQUIPMENT (LARGE COOKING POTS) USED IN THE FACILITY IS TOO LARGE TO FIT AND FULLY IMMERSE WITHIN THE COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. FACILITY MUST INSTALL A LARGER 3COMPARTMENT SINKTHAT WILL ALLOW ALL EQUIPMENT TO BE IMMERSED, USE SMALLER EQUIPMENT THAT CAN FIT IN THE EXISTING 3 COMPARTMENT SINK OR USE AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF MANUAL WAREWASHING APPROVED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
• 🚻bathroom / plumbing issues
  Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices • OBSERVED LEAK UNDER HANDISNK IN COOKLINE AREA. FACILITY MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED SLOW DRAINING HAND SINK IN WOMENS RESTROOM. FACILITY MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED LOW HOT WATER PRESSURE IN THE WOMENS RESTROOM. FACILITY MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
• 🧹floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
  Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean • OBSERVED HEAVY ACCUMILATION OF GREASE ON FLOORS, WALLS, CASTER WHEELS ON COOKLINE UNITS, KITCHEN COOKLINE UNITS/EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT. FACILITY MUST DEEP CLEAN AND MAINTAIN CLEANLINESS THROUGHOUT.
• ⚠️Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • LIGHTING IN BOTH RESTROOMS IS FOUND TO BE INSUFFICIENT. LIGHT INTENSITY SHALL BE SUFFICIENT SO THAT THE AREA, ALL UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD ITEMS ARE EASILY VISABLE. • EMPLOYEE OPEN DRINKS FOOD FOUND ON SHELVING WHERE CLEAN DISHWARE IS STORED. AREAS DESIGNATED FOR EMPLOYEES TO EAT, DRINK, AND USE TOBACCO SHALL BE LOCATED SO THAT FOOD, EQUIPMENT, LINENS, AND SINGLE-SERVICE AND SINGLE-USE ARTICLES ARE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.
  Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • LIGHTING IN BOTH RESTROOMS IS FOUND TO BE INSUFFICIENT. LIGHT INTENSITY SHALL BE SUFFICIENT SO THAT THE AREA, ALL UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD ITEMS ARE EASILY VISABLE. • EMPLOYEE OPEN DRINKS FOOD FOUND ON SHELVING WHERE CLEAN DISHWARE IS STORED. AREAS DESIGNATED FOR EMPLOYEES TO EAT, DRINK, AND USE TOBACCO SHALL BE LOCATED SO THAT FOOD, EQUIPMENT, LINENS, AND SINGLE-SERVICE AND SINGLE-USE ARTICLES ARE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.
• 🥜allergen training missing
  Allergen Training As Required • FOOD ALLERGEN CERTIFICATION NOT PROVIDED ON SITE. ALL CITY/PENDING CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN A VALID FOOD ALLERGEN CERTIFICATION AND PROVIDE ON SITE.

When was Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya last inspected?

Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya has 7 inspections on record going back to December 27, 2018.

Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya vs Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park runs 67% clean across 1,649 tracked restaurants — 1,089 clean, 360 mid, 187 cooked.

Against the 1,649 spots Cooked tracks in Lincoln Park, this one comes out cleaner than 18% of them.

Other spots in Lincoln Park

• ✓ Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya
  clean · December 27, 2018
• ✓ Dough Dough
  clean · July 24, 2020
• ✓ Paula's Thai Kitchen
  clean · March 18, 2026
• ✓! Iron Lotus
  mid · August 24, 2018
• ✓ Peking Chinese Food
  clean · March 18, 2025
• ✓! J9 Wine Bar
  mid · September 16, 2021

See every restaurant inspection in Lincoln Park →

How Chicago grades restaurants

Chicago does not use letter grades. Every inspection ends in one of three official results: Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail. Pass with Conditions means violations were found but corrected on the spot or under a deadline — the restaurant is open, with homework. A Fail means serious violations went uncorrected, and it usually brings a re-inspection within days. Chicago also flags “priority” violations, the ones most likely to actually make someone sick. Cooked reads Pass as clean, Pass with Conditions as mid, and Fail as cooked, and shows the itemized violations behind each result.

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health via Chicago Data Portal. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated December 21, 2023. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.