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Pancake Cafe/Aji Sushi

August 18, 2025 · Pass

😇clean

official resultPass
resultPass
inspection typeComplaint Re-Inspection
failed findings7
critical findings0

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Failed findings

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.
code 38
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: 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 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. • 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.
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 Fail on August 11, 2025: 7 findings recurred. 5 previous findings did not recur.

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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.