Pancake Cafe/Aji Sushi

August 11, 2025 · Fail

🪳cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeComplaint
failed findings12
critical findings1

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Failed findings

handwashing sink blocked or barecritical

Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
Inspector note: OBSERVED SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS PROVIDED AT DUMP SINK IN THE AJI SUSHI PREP AREA. INSTRCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE AND ENSURE SERVICE/DUMP SINK IS NOT SET UP OR USED FOR HAND WASHING.
code 10Priority
surfaces not properly sanitized

Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE WITH A CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION OF 0PPM AT TIME OF INSPECTION. MACHINE WAS IN USE AT TIME OF INSPECTION, WITH SANITIZER TUBE NOT CONNECTED TO ANY BUCKETS OR CHEMICALS. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE SANITIZING SOLUTION CONCENTRAION. DISH MACHINE WAS REPAIRED AT TIME OF INSPECTION AND TESTED 50 PPM BY END OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION, 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
code 16
pests in the house

Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
Inspector note: OBSERVED 10 DEAD COACKROACHES ON PREP TABLE BELOW THE MICROWAVE IN THE TOASTER AREA ON NORTHERN MOST PORTION OF PANCAKE CAFE NEAR THE 2 DOOR REACH IN COOLER. OBSERVED 3 DEAD ROACHES ON THE SHELF NEXT TO THE REAR/NORTH ENTRANCE TO THE KITCHEN OF THE PANCAKE CAFE. OBSERVED ADDITIONAL 2 DEAD COCKROACHES UNDER THE SHELVES DIRECTLY ACROSS DEEP FRYER AND CONVECTION OVEN IN THE REAR HALL PREP AREA OF PANCAKE CAFE. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FREE OF DEAD COCKROACHES AND INSECTS. • OBSERVED THREE (3) LIVE ROACHES AT THE GASKETS/HINGE OF THE 2 DOOR REACH IN COOLER AT THE NORTHERN MOST PREP/TOASTER AREA OF PANCAKE CAFE, ONE (1) LIVE ROACH IN THE CAN OPENER LOCATED IN REAR PREP HALL NEXT TO PREP TABLE, TWO (2) LIVE ROACHES BELOW THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AREA, AND ONE (1) LIVE ROACH NEXT TO DEEP FRYER IN THE REAR. ALSO OBSERVED TWO (2) LIVE COCKROACHES IN THE NORTHEASTERN MOST CORNER OF THE PREP COUNTER/WOODEN BAR WALL IN THE AJI SUSHI PREP AREA. RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE TO REMOVE ALL EVIDENCE OF LIVE COCKRACH ACTIVITY, AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE BY DATE OF REINSPECTION AND MAINTAIN. INSTRUCTED TO TREAT AREAS FOR PESTS AND MAINTAIN FREE OF LIVE COCKROACHES. ADVISED TO CALL PEST CONTROL OPERATOR FOR SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION, 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
code 38
Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display

Inspector note: OBSERVED VARIOUS BOXED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT DRY STORAGE AREA NEAR THE WALK IN COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.
code 39
In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored

Inspector note: OBSERVED KNIVES STORED IN BETWEEN PREP COOLERS AND PREP COUNTERS THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE A CLEAN STORAGE LOCATION FOR ALL KNIVES AND UTENTILS IN BETWEEN USE.
code 43
Single-Use/Single-Service Articles: Properly Stored & Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED VARIOUS BOXED SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE PANCAKE CAFE BASEMENT DRY STORAGE ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL BOXES AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.
code 45
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: OBSERVED VARIOUS PIECES OF WOOD ON THE BAR/PREP STATION SURROUNDING WALLS IN THE AJI SUSHI SIDE TO BE UNSEALED, NOT PAINTED, AND NOT SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL PIECES OF UNFINISHED WOOD IN THE AJI SUSHI BAR AND SURROUNDING PIECES OF WOOD HOLDING ALL PREP COOLERS AT THE COUNTER. • OBSERVED TWO (2) DOOR COOLER AT THE TOASTER PREP AREA AT THE NORTHERN MOST END OF THE PANCAKE CAFE TO HAVE SEVEREALY TORN AND LOOSE GASEKTS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TORN GASKETS.
code 47
plumbing acting up

Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE GASKETS AND DOOR HINGES OF THE TWO (2) DOOR COOLER LOCATED AT NORTHERN MOST END OF THE PANCAKE CAFE/TOASTER PREP AREA TO BE EXTREMELY DIRTY, WITH FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE, AND TRASH BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN ALL GASKETS AND HINGES AND CREVICES AND MAINTAIN FREE OF EXCESSIVE DEBRIS AND GREASE BUILD UP.
code 49
bathroom / plumbing issues

Official wording: Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE HOT WATER HANDLE OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE MAIN DISHWASHING AREA TO BE MISSING. HOT WATER AND SINK IS STILL FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE AND REPLACE. OBSERVED LEAK FROM 3 COMPARTMENT SINK DRAIN IN THE FRONT BAR AREA IN THE PANCAKE CAFE SOUTHERN MOST ENTRANCE. WATER DRIPPING ON FLOOR BELOW 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR. • OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE PRESENT AT THE COFFEE MAKER/MACHINE AT THE NORTH SIDE COFFEE PREP AREA IN THE PANCAKE CAFE PORTION OF THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT THE COFFEE MACHINE WATER LINE.
code 51
Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned

Inspector note: OBSERVED ALL THREE BATHROOMS AT FACILITY TO BE WITHOUT A SELF CLOSING DOOR AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING MECHANISM FOR ALL BATHROOM DOORS.
code 53
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED THE FLOORING BELOW THE SINGLE FRYER AND THE CONVECTION OVEN IN THE REAR PREP HALL LEADING TO THE NORTH END TOASTER TO BE HEAVILY SOILED WITH GREASE BUILD UP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND PIECES OF TRASH. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DETAIL CLEAN ALL FLOORS AND MAINTAIN FREE OF EXCESSIVE TRASH AND DEBRIS BUILD UP. OBSERVED THE MAIN PREP LINE ON THE PANCAKE CAFE UNDER THE DRAWER COOLERS AND FRYERS, AS WELL AS THE FLOOR UNDER THE COOLERS IN THE AJI PREP/BAR LINE TO BE HEAVILY SOILED WITH FOOD DEBRIS AND TRASH BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FREE OF EXCESSIVE TRASH AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP. • OBSERVED VARIOUS GAPS AND OPEN CORNERS IN THE AJI SUSHI COUNTER PREP LINE, SURROUNDING THE REACH IN/PREP COOLERS AS WELL AS THE HAND SINKS. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL JUNCTURES AND ENCLOSE/SEAL ALL GAPS TO PROVIDE A CLEANABLE SURFACE.
code 55
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED NO LIGHTS AVAILABLE IN THE OVERHEAD EXHAUST OF THE REAR EXHAUST/PREP AREA OVER THE CONVECTION OVEN/FRYER IN THE REAR HALL PREP, AS WELL AS NO LIGHTS AVAILABLE IN THE HOOD AT THE FRONT/MAIN PREP LINE AT THE SOUTH END OF PANCAKE CAFE. INSTRUCTED TO SERVICE/PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING AT ALL PREP AREAS.
code 56

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on March 25, 2025: 11 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred.

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About this record

This record comes from Chicago Department of Public Health. Cooked keeps the official result and wording separate from its plain-English explanation so you can verify what the inspector actually published.

Source: Chicago Data Portal.