Manhattan, NY — East Japanese Restaurant, located at 314 West 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 29 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 26, 2026. The score places the Japanese restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest grade in the city's restaurant inspection system.

The inspection identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation at the establishment, which is situated in the heart of the Midtown theater district near Eighth Avenue.

What Inspectors Found

The most serious finding during the inspection was evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas, cited under violation code 04L. This is classified as a critical violation under NYC's restaurant inspection framework, as the presence of rodents in a food service establishment poses a direct risk to public health. Mice can contaminate food preparation surfaces, stored ingredients, and equipment with pathogens including Salmonella and Hantavirus.

Inspectors also documented a non-critical violation under code 10F, noting that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. While classified as non-critical, this type of condition can contribute to pest harborage by creating areas that are difficult to clean and inspect.

The action recorded for this inspection noted that violations were cited in the identified areas.

Food Safety Context

The presence of rodent activity in a food service establishment is among the most heavily weighted violations in the DOHMH inspection scoring system. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain their premises free of vermin, including mice and rats. The FDA Food Code similarly requires that food establishments implement effective pest management practices and maintain facilities in a condition that prevents the entry and harborage of pests.

Rodent evidence violations are critical because mice can access and contaminate both stored food products and food preparation areas. Even in cases where live mice are not directly observed, evidence such as droppings, gnaw marks, or nesting materials indicates active rodent presence that requires immediate remediation.

The non-food contact surface violation, while carrying fewer points, is notable in conjunction with the rodent finding. Equipment and surfaces that cannot be properly cleaned or inspected can create conditions conducive to pest activity, as food debris and moisture may accumulate in inaccessible areas.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available in the DOHMH public database for East Japanese Restaurant at this location. The February 26, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection in the current dataset. This could indicate that the establishment is relatively new, recently changed ownership, or that prior records fall outside the current reporting window.

  • February 26, 2026: Score 29 (Grade C), violations cited

It should be noted that this inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 2, 2026, approximately four days after the inspection was conducted. There may be a lag between when conditions are observed and when data becomes publicly available.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health codes:

  • A: 0–13 points
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

East Japanese Restaurant's score of 29 falls just above the Grade C threshold. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection, during which they may improve their score and receive a higher grade. Grades must be posted in a conspicuous location visible to customers entering the establishment.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH online database or the NYC 311 system. Inspection reports, including specific violations cited, are part of the public record and are updated as new inspections are completed.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for East Japanese Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.