Manhattan, NY — Chung Dduk, a Korean restaurant at 11 West 32nd Street in Manhattan's Koreatown district, received a Grade B score of 20 points following a health inspection conducted on February 26, 2026. Inspectors from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) documented one critical violation related to hand washing facilities.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Chung Dduk for a single critical violation under Code 05D, which addresses hand washing facility requirements. The violation indicated that no hand washing facility was available in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware washing area. The citation also noted that hand washing facilities were not accessible, were obstructed, or were being used for non-hand washing purposes, and that issues existed with hot and cold running water availability, soap, or acceptable hand-drying devices.
No non-critical violations were documented during this inspection. The restaurant's total score of 20 points placed it in the Grade B range, and the establishment was permitted to continue operating with violations cited.
Food Safety Context
Hand washing requirements are among the most fundamental food safety regulations enforced by DOHMH. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food service establishments must maintain accessible, properly supplied hand washing stations in close proximity to food handling areas and restrooms. These facilities must provide hot and cold running water at adequate pressure, along with soap and acceptable hand-drying devices.
The FDA Food Code identifies inadequate handwashing as a leading contributing factor to foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings. Proper hand hygiene among food handlers is considered a primary barrier against the transmission of pathogens including norovirus, hepatitis A, Salmonella, and E. coli. A critical violation in this category reflects a condition that DOHMH considers likely to contribute directly to foodborne illness if not corrected.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Chung Dduk in the DOHMH public database. This February 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection for this establishment in the current dataset. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 2, 2026.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation point totals accumulated during inspections. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Chung Dduk's score of 20 points falls within the Grade B range. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection to attempt to achieve a lower score. Grades must be posted at the restaurant entrance where they are visible to the public.
Consumers can look up the full inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly with new inspection data. The database provides detailed violation descriptions, historical scores, and current grade status for all inspected establishments.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Chung Dduk including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.