Manhattan, NY — Dim Sum Chelsea, located at 236 8th Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 6, 2026. The restaurant scored 26 points — placing it at the upper boundary of the Grade B range and two points below the threshold for a Grade C. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 8, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations and one non-critical violation during the April visit.

The first critical violation, Code 02G, cited temperature control failures for time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods. Cold TCS items were found held above the required 41°F threshold. Proper cold storage temperatures are essential to preventing bacterial growth in perishable foods such as meat, dairy, and prepared dishes.

The second critical violation, Code 04L, recorded evidence of mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. This type of violation is among the most serious categories tracked by DOHMH, as rodent activity poses a direct contamination risk to food preparation surfaces, stored ingredients, and finished dishes.

The single non-critical violation, Code 20-08, noted a failure to conspicuously post required healthy eating information as mandated by city regulations.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurant inspections are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes food handling, storage, sanitation, and pest control standards for all food service establishments. Federal guidance is also provided by the FDA Food Code, which sets baseline temperature requirements for cold food storage.

Temperature violations involving TCS foods are flagged as critical because improper holding temperatures — even for short periods — can allow pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria to multiply to dangerous levels. Rodent evidence violations are classified as critical under Article 81 due to the risk of contamination via droppings, urine, and contact with food surfaces.

A score of 26 is notable in that it sits at the high end of the Grade B band. Had inspectors cited one additional violation of sufficient weight, the restaurant could have crossed into Grade C territory.

Inspection History

Dim Sum Chelsea's recent inspection record shows variability in scores over the past several years:

  • August 28, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 24, 2024: Score 21
  • February 23, 2023: Score 17 (Grade B)
  • September 22, 2022: Score 0

The restaurant had previously achieved a Grade A as recently as August 2024, making the current score of 26 a notable decline from that cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores under the following scale:

  • A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Grades must be posted at the restaurant's entrance so that customers can view them before entering. Restaurants that receive a grade other than A may request a re-inspection before the grade is finalized.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Dim Sum Chelsea including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.