Manhattan, NY — Cardio Bakery, a Chinese bakery located at 51 Division Street in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, received a score of 57 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 9, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system, indicating significant food safety concerns identified during the visit.

The inspection, carried out by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 11, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most serious finding involved food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities when contamination may have occurred (violation code 06D). This is classified as a critical violation because improperly sanitized surfaces that come into direct contact with food — such as cutting boards, prep tables, utensils, and equipment — can serve as vectors for bacterial contamination. Pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can persist on surfaces that are not adequately cleaned between uses, posing a direct risk to consumers.

Inspectors also documented a non-critical violation noting that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests (violation code 08A). While classified as non-critical, pest-conducive conditions can escalate into active infestations if not addressed. Such conditions may include gaps in walls or flooring, improper food storage, accumulated debris, or inadequate waste management that could attract or shelter pests.

The combined score of 57 points reflects the severity of the findings. In New York City's scoring system, lower scores indicate fewer violations, and a score of 57 is well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The code requires that food contact surfaces be cleaned and sanitized at prescribed intervals to prevent cross-contamination — a standard that aligns with the FDA Food Code's recommendations for commercial food preparation environments.

Proper surface sanitization is a foundational element of food safety practice. The FDA Food Code specifies that food contact surfaces must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses, particularly when switching between different food types or after any interruption during which contamination could occur. Failure to maintain this standard is consistently among the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City inspections.

Pest harborage conditions, while categorized as non-critical, are taken seriously by regulators because they can indicate broader sanitation deficiencies. DOHMH expects establishments to maintain facilities in a condition that does not attract or support pest activity.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Cardio Bakery in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate that the February 9, 2026 inspection was the establishment's initial inspection, or that prior records are not reflected in the current dataset. First inspections that result in scores of 28 or above typically lead to a re-inspection, at which point the restaurant's letter grade is determined based on the better of the two scores.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the following scale:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points, indicating minimal violations
  • Grade B: 14–27 points, indicating moderate violations
  • Grade C: 28 or more points, indicating significant violations

Restaurants that score 28 or above on an initial inspection are scheduled for a re-inspection, typically within 30 days. The establishment receives the grade associated with the better score between the initial and re-inspection visits. Restaurants may also request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest inspection findings.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance, as required by law. Additional information about the city's restaurant grading program is available at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Cardio Bakery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.