Manhattan, NY — Crown Chicken N Fries, a chicken restaurant located at 3853 Broadway in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a January 9, 2026 inspection that resulted in a score of 81 points and documented nine critical violations and six non-critical violations.
A score of 81 is well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system. The closure was ordered after inspectors identified conditions requiring immediate corrective action across multiple areas of the establishment's operations.
What Inspectors Found
The January 9 inspection identified a range of food safety and sanitation concerns spanning food handling, pest activity, handwashing access, and facility management.
Food handling and temperature control: Inspectors cited the restaurant twice under Code 04H for raw, cooked, or prepared food that was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with its HACCP plan. Additionally, two separate violations were recorded under Code 04J for the absence of properly scaled and calibrated thermometers or thermocouples in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas — equipment essential for verifying that time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods are maintained at required levels during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.
Pest activity: Inspectors documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas under Code 04L. Live roaches were also found in the facility under Code 04M. A non-critical violation under Code 08A noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. A separate non-critical violation under Code 28-06 indicated that no contract with a pest management professional was in place and that records of extermination activities were not maintained on the premises.
Handwashing facilities: Two violations were recorded under Code 05D citing the absence of accessible hand washing facilities in or adjacent to the toilet room or within 25 feet of food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas. The violations also noted issues with hot and cold running water, water pressure, soap availability, or acceptable hand-drying devices.
Food safety management: A critical violation under Code 04A documented that no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC), which is required under New York City regulations to ensure that at least one person on-site has formal training in food safety practices.
Posting and equipment violations: Non-critical violations included failure to post "Choking first aid" and "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning signs (Code 20-04), failure to conspicuously post healthy eating information on two counts (Code 20-08), and non-food contact surfaces or equipment not kept clean or made of acceptable material (Code 10F).
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program is governed by NYC Health Code Article 81 and incorporates standards from the FDA Food Code. Under these regulations, violations are classified as critical or non-critical based on their potential impact on public health. Critical violations represent conditions most likely to contribute to foodborne illness or injury.
The presence of mice and roaches in a food establishment poses direct contamination risks, as pests can carry pathogens including Salmonella and E. coli. The FDA Food Code requires that food establishments maintain adequate pest control measures and that facilities be designed and maintained to prevent pest entry and harborage.
Handwashing access is considered a foundational requirement of food safety. The FDA Food Code mandates that handwashing sinks be conveniently located, properly supplied, and accessible at all times during food handling operations. The absence of functioning handwashing stations was cited as a critical concern at this location.
The requirement for a Food Protection Certificate ensures that at least one person in a supervisory role has completed an approved food safety course and can oversee proper food handling procedures. The absence of a certified manager may indicate gaps in food safety oversight.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Crown Chicken N Fries in DOHMH public records. The January 9, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection for this establishment in the dataset released on February 10, 2026.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer violations:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Crown Chicken N Fries received a score of 81, placing it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must address all cited violations before being permitted to reopen. A re-inspection is conducted to verify that conditions have been corrected.
Consumers can look up restaurant inspection results, scores, and grades through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The data used in this report was released by DOHMH on February 10, 2026, reflecting an inspection conducted on January 9, 2026.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Crown Chicken N Fries including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.