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GONG CHA

555 S STATE ST, CHICAGO, IL 60605 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

GONG CHA has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 6, 2022. The most recent inspection, on February 24, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Protecting food from contamination.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded once on February 22, 2023. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on February 22, 2023. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 24, 2025. For example: CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded once on February 22, 2023. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

4 inspections

  1. Complaint

    2 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • FOUND NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER OR VALID CERTIFICATE ON SITE WHILE TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (milk) ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED DEAD INSECTS BY THE LEDGE ALONG THE WINDOWS IN THE CUSTOMER DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
  2. Complaint Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED NEW EMPLOYEES (ONE MALE ONE FEMALE) WITHOUT FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED ALL NEW EMPLOYEES MUST MEET REQUIREMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HIRE.
  3. Complaint

    8 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • 2-101.11 OBSERVED THE PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT AN ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE POSTED. INSTRUCTED ALL PERSONS IN CHARGE MUST HAVE A VALID ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE AND POSTED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED UNDER VIOLATION #2.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • 2-101.11 OBSERVED NO ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE ON SITE AND POSTED. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS HAVE AN ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE ON SITE AND POSTED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • 5-202.12(A) OBSERVED THE HOT WATER KNOB NOT WORKING AT THE HAND WASHING SINK LOCATED IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND ALWAYS MAINTAIN ALL HAND WASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • 6-501.112 OBSERVED DEAD INSECTS BY THE LEDGE ALONG THE WINDOWS IN THE CUSTOMER DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • 3-306.11 OBSERVED INADEQUATE FOOD PROTECTION AT THE FRONT CUSTOMER COUNTER BY THE FRONT DRINK MACHINE AND BY THE PREP COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER PROTECTION FROM ANY POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION FROM CUSTOMERS BY PROVIDING SNEEZE GUARDS AT LEAST 60 INCHES (FROM THE FLOOR) IN HEIGHT. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-204.12 OBSERVED PIPES GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE AIR GAP FOR THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A PROPER AIR GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE FLOOR DRAIN FOR THE ICE MACHINE.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED NEW EMPLOYEES (ONE MALE ONE FEMALE) WITHOUT FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED ALL NEW EMPLOYEES MUST MEET REQUIREMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HIRE.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • 8-304.11(A) OBSERVED PREVIOUS INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY NOT POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS POST THE MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY FOR PUBLIC VIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-010(B).
  4. License

    0 infractions

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