Manhattan, NY — Emperor Dumpling, located at 685 3rd Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, received a Grade C following a health inspection conducted March 24, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 31, placing the restaurant in the C grade range under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 26, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The critical citation — Code 06D — found that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities during which contamination may have occurred.

Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, prep tables, slicers, utensils, and other equipment that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, these surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized at defined intervals and whenever contamination is reasonably possible — including after handling raw proteins, between uses with different food items, and at the close of each work period.

Code 06D is classified as a critical violation because inadequately sanitized food contact surfaces can facilitate the transfer of pathogens — including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria — from contaminated surfaces to food that is served to customers. No closure order was issued as part of this inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitation standards that all food service establishments in New York City are required to meet. The FDA Food Code, which informs the city's standards, specifies that food contact surfaces must be sanitized using approved chemical sanitizers at proper concentrations, or through heat sanitization methods, to effectively reduce microbial contamination to safe levels.

The citation of Code 06D does not indicate that any illness was reported or that contaminated food was served to customers. It documents that, at the time of inspection, the observed sanitation practices for food contact surfaces did not meet the requirements set by the applicable health code.

Restaurants found in violation are expected to correct identified deficiencies. DOHMH inspectors may conduct a re-inspection to verify compliance. A restaurant's grade can change following subsequent inspections.

Inspection History

Emperor Dumpling's recent inspection record shows the following:

  • January 14, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • May 21, 2024: Score 22 (Grade B range)
  • March 24, 2026: Score 31 (Grade C)

The restaurant's most recent prior inspection, conducted in January 2025, resulted in a Grade A — the highest available rating under the city's system. The May 2024 inspection produced a score in the Grade B range. The March 2026 result represents an increase in point total compared to both prior recorded inspections.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the total score recorded during an inspection:

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

Each violation carries a point value determined by DOHMH based on the severity and risk category of the violation. Critical violations — those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk — are assigned higher point values than non-critical violations. A single critical violation can contribute substantially to a restaurant's total score.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically offered the option of a re-inspection before a grade is formally posted. The grade displayed reflects the score from the most recently completed graded inspection.

More About This Restaurant

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