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POKE OKIE

2945 N MILWAUKEE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

POKE OKIE has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 11, 2023. The most recent inspection, on October 30, 2025, recorded 4 infractions.

2 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 4 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Pests 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.

  • 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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 30, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 December 5, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 2 times on May 11, 2023. For example: CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded once on October 30, 2025. For example: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on May 11, 2023. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED HAND SOAP NOT PROVIDED AT THE FRONT KITCHEN AREA HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HAND SOAP AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AVAILABLE FOR USE IN HANDWASHING AT ALL TIMES. PERSON-IN-CHARGE PROVIDED HAND SOAP TO FRONT KICHEN AREA HANDWASHING SINK AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS NOT PROVIDED AT THE FRONT KITCHEN AREA HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AVAILABLE FOR USE IN HANDWASHING AT ALL TIMES. PERSON-IN-CHARGE PROVIDED DISPOSABLE PAPER TOWELS TO FRONT KICHEN AREA HANDWASHING SINK AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C) CITATION COMBINED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION.
    • 35. APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED FROZEN BEEF THAWING AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ON FOOD PREPARATION SURFACE IN THE REAR STORAGE AREA. ALSO OBSERVED RAW TUNA STORED IN REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING (ROP) INDICATING TO KEEP FROZEN UNTIL USE STORED IN SEALED ROP WHILE THAWING. INSTRUCTED TO THAW TCS FOOD ITEMS USING APPROVED THAWING METHODS SUCH AS UNDER REFRIGERATION AND REMOVE FISH FROM ROP WHEN PACKAGING INDICATES TO THAW IMMEDIATELY BEFORE USE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS ON-SITE WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING OR CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.
  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK IS INCOMPLETE. LAST SERVICE REPORT PROVIDED WAS DATED ON 5/1/2024. NO OTHER SERVICE REPORTS WERE PROVIDED AT THIS TIME. ESTABLISHMENT WAS LICENSED ON 6/5/2023. MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST 2 SERVICE REPORTS WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS FROM A LICENSED PEST CONTROL EXTERMINATOR. SERVICE REPORTS MUST BE KEPT ON FILE FOR 12 MONTHS AND MUST PROVIDE IDPH PEST CONTROL LICENSE NUMBER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(c). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAK AT PIPE BELOW HAND SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA. MUST REPAIR.
  4. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. License

    10 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • FOUND NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY/TRAINING ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND INCOMPLETE VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL SPILL KIT ( MISSING ITEM APPROPRIATE SANITIZER THAT KILLS NOROVIRUS). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COMPLETE SPILL KIT . PROCEDURE AVAILABLE ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDSINK INFRONT AND IN REAR PREP/ DISHWASHING AREA AREA.
    • 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD
      • OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY DISCLOSURE ON THE MENUS FOR RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO DISCLOSE OR DESCRIBE WHICH FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED AND LINK THOSE ITEMS WITH AN ASTERISK (*) TO A REMINDER STATEMENT ON THE MENU. MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE BEFORE THE REMINDER STATEMENT: "THESE FOODS CAN BE ORDERED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED OR MAY CONTAIN RAW OR UNDERCOOKED INGREDIENTS." PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF BOTTOM OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • ESTABLISHMENT HAS OPENING IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. A BARRIER IS NEEDED WHEN THE PREPARATION IS ADJACENT TO THE CUSTOMER AREA AND IT IS LIKELY THAT CONTAMINATION WILL OCCUR. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. OBSERVED IN FRONT FOOD PREP AREA UNDER EXPOSED SEWAGE PIPES. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY ENCASE OR ENCLOSE SEWER LINES OR PROVIDE PROPER SHIELD TO INTERCEPT POTENTIAL DRIPS.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • FOUND INCORRECT SANITIZING (POOL/SPA) TEST STRIPS (FOR CHLORINE/QUATS) AVAILABLE FOR DETERMINING SANITIZING CONCENTRATION AT 3 COMPARTMENT SANITIZING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CORRECT CHLORINE/QUATS SANITIZING STRIPS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • TOILET ROOM DOOR MUST BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE FOR MEN AND WOMEN WASHROOM DOOR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO SEAL HOLES ON WALL AROUND REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • FOUND NO APPROVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE ON SITE . INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.

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