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TAI CHI

1158 W TAYLOR ST, CHICAGO, IL 60607 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

TAI CHI has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 20, 2020. The most recent inspection, on January 26, 2024, found no infractions.

1 of 5 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: Protecting food from contamination, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 13, 2023. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 2 times on March 17, 2022. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 2 times on March 17, 2022. For example: PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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 February 20, 2020. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 7 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 13, 2023. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF SYRUP STORED INSIDE THE 1ST-FLOOR WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO REMOVE FROM WASHROOM AND ONLY STORE FOOD IN APPROVED LOCATIONS.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED A BOX OF SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS (CUPS) STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR IN THE KITCHEN. MUST ELEVATE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE 2ND-FLOOR MOP SINK. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • FOUND NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE INSIDE THE 2ND-FLOOR WOMEN'S WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. ALL EMPLOYEES WHO HANDLE/PREPARE FOOD MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATES ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE.
  3. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED EQUIPMENT STORED ON TOP OF HAND WASHING SINK AT DISH WASHING AREA MAKING IT INACCESSIBLE FOR EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. ALSO HOT WATER WAS SHUT OFF AT HAND SINK DURING INSPECTION. MANAGER REMOVED ITEMS FROM HAND SINK AND TURNED ON HOT WATER LINE. HAND WASHING SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO EMPLOYEES AT ALL TIMES TO PROPERLY WASH HANDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(c). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT HAND SINK LOCATED IN BATHROOM ON 2ND FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PAPER TOWELS AT HAND SINK AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). SEE ABOVE FOR CITATION.
    • 21. PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED WHITE RICE AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 104.7F. ALSO OBSERVED BROWN RICE AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 103.1F. TCS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 135.0F OR ABOVE. FOOD HAS BEEN DISCARDED AND DENATURED. FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 15 POUNDS AT A COST OF $30.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED SPINACH AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 48.3F. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE MUST BE AT 41.0F OR BELOW. FOOD HAS BEEN DISCARDED AND DENATURED. FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 5 POUNDS AT A COST OF $3.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. SEE ABOVE FOR CITATION.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED HEAVY DUST AND GREASE ON VENTILATION HOOD. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CARD BOARD BOXES NEAR BACK DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
  4. License Re-Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  5. License

    5 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
    • 15. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
      • OBSERVED AN AREA ON THE SIDE OF THE SERVING LINE THAT IS NOT PROTECTED FROM POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION BY THE CONSUMER; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A BARRIER TO THAT AREA ON THE SERVING LINE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • FOUND NO CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS ON PREMISES FOR TESTING THE SANITIZER AT THE THREE COMP SINK WHEN WASH RINSE AND SANITIZING; MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.

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