Manhattan, NY — Gai Chicken & Rice, a Thai restaurant at 118 Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan, received a score of 39 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system, driven by a critical violation involving food temperature control.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection. The restaurant was cited under violation code 02A for failing to cook Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food to the required minimum internal temperature.

Under this code, specific temperature thresholds must be met during the cooking process:

  • Poultry and ground poultry must reach 165°F for 15 seconds with no interruption
  • Ground meat and foods containing ground meat must reach 158°F for 15 seconds
  • Pork and foods containing pork must reach 150°F for 15 seconds
  • Mechanically tenderized or injected meats must reach 155°F
  • Whole meat roasts and beef steaks must reach required temperatures unless prepared per individual customer request
  • All other foods must reach 140°F for 15 seconds, and shell eggs must reach 145°F for 15 seconds unless requested otherwise

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection. The action taken by DOHMH was that violations were cited in the identified area.

Food Safety Context

Proper cooking temperatures are among the most fundamental food safety requirements outlined in both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. Cooking food to the correct internal temperature is the primary method for eliminating harmful pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, which are commonly associated with undercooked poultry and meat products.

For a restaurant specializing in chicken dishes, temperature control during cooking is particularly significant. Poultry carries a higher risk of Salmonella contamination than many other proteins, which is why it requires the highest minimum cooking temperature of 165°F among commonly prepared meats.

The critical designation on this violation reflects DOHMH's assessment that the condition identified poses a direct risk to public health and could contribute to foodborne illness if not corrected.

Inspection History

Gai Chicken & Rice has a mixed inspection record over the past three years. The current score of 39 represents the restaurant's highest point total — and therefore worst performance — in available inspection records:

  • Mar 6, 2026: Score 39 (Grade C range)
  • Jul 24, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • May 19, 2025: Score 36 (no grade recorded)
  • Mar 21, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • Mar 7, 2023: Score 9 (Grade A)

The restaurant has historically alternated between strong Grade A results and elevated scores. The May 2025 inspection also resulted in a score of 36, indicating a pattern of periodic compliance issues. The two most recent inspections have both produced scores well above the Grade A threshold.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total points accumulated during a health inspection. Points are assigned for each violation found, with more serious violations carrying higher point values:

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

A lower score indicates fewer or less serious violations. Gai Chicken & Rice's score of 39 falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection, during which a new score may be assigned.

Public Resources

Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly available online. The database includes violation details, scores, and grade assignments for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Gai Chicken & Rice including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.