Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Momotaro

820 W Lake St

Last inspected Oct 14, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Pass

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More Issues RecentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

Quick Answers

When was Momotaro last inspected?: The most recent inspection on record was on Oct 14, 2026. The result listed by Chicago Department of Public Health was “Pass”.
Were any violations recorded at the last inspection?: Yes: 3 violations recorded. Each one is listed below with the official wording.
How many inspections are on record?: 5 inspections on record, from Mar 1, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026.
Has Momotaro ever been closed by the health department?: No closure appears in the 5 inspection records we hold for this business. The earliest is dated Mar 1, 2024.

The Full Inspection History

5 inspections

Complaint Re-Inspection

Oct 14, 2026

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector’s Notes

4-602.11(B-E) : INTERIOR PANEL OF ICE MACHINE NOT CLEAN, RESIDUE NOTED. INSTD TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector’s Notes

4-101.19 : RUSTY WIRE RACKS IN PREP COOLERS OF 1ST FLOOR. INSTD TO REMOVE RUST AND MAINTAIN. PLASTIC LINING ON ROLLING CART UNDER VACUUM PACKAGING MACHINE. INSTD TO REMOVE PLASTIC LINING AND MAINTAIN SAME

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector’s Notes

4-601.11(C): THE FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN EXCESSIVE GRIME, AND DEBRIS ACCUMULATION: INTERIOR OF SMALL COOLER IN WAIT STATION, FAUCET HANDLES OF HANDWASH SINK IN WAREWASHING AREA, EXTERIOR TOP OF GREASE TRAP AT 1ST FLOOR 3-COMPARMENT SINK, SURFACE UNDERNEATH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NEAR DRAIN HANDLES (BASEMENT), AND ALL WIRE RACKS IN ALL COOLERS OF 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTD TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Oct 14, 2026 · Original Source

Complaint Re-Inspection

Oct 1, 2025

Pass

2 recorded violations

notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official Wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s Notes

5-205.15 REPAIR THE WATER LEAK FROM THE HIGH TEMPERATURE CONVEYOR DISHMACHINE LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT DISHWASHING AREA.

In Plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

6-501.12 CLEAN THE FLOOR OF THE 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA UNDER THE PREP COOLERS AND IN THE CORNERS UNDER EQUIPMENT. CLEAN THE CEILING TILES IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA WITH FOOD DEBRIS.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Oct 1, 2025 · Original Source

Complaint

Sep 22, 2025

Fail

3 recorded violations

notedCode 38Pests

Official Wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED APPROX. 75 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS ON THE WALLS AND CEILINGS IN THE 1ST FLOOR AND BASEMENT FOOD PREP, DRY STORAGE AND DISH WASHING AREAS, AND IN THE STAIRWELL LEADING TO THE ALLEY AND BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

In Plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

CLEAN THE EXTERIOR OF THE GREASE TRAP AND DRAIN LINES LOCATED NEXT TO THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official Wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s Notes

REPAIR THE WATER LEAK FROM THE HIGH TEMPERATURE CONVEYOR DISHMACHINE LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT DISHWASHING AREA.

In Plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Sep 22, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 8, 2024

Pass

2 recorded violations

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS, AND ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official Wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s Notes

OBSERVED MISSING HANDWASH SIGN AT FIRST FLOOR BAR AREA HAND SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

In Plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.