Bronx, NY — Gong Cha, a tea and coffee shop located at 625 East 187 Street in the Bronx, received a score of 32 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 10, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, defined as 28 or more points, and represents a notable departure from the location's recent inspection history.

The inspection identified one critical violation related to food contamination protection. No non-critical violations were recorded. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene cited violations but did not order a closure at the time of inspection.

What Inspectors Found

The single violation documented during the inspection was classified as critical under violation code 06C. Inspectors found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

This type of violation addresses a fundamental principle of food safety: maintaining proper barriers between food products and potential contaminants. In a beverage-focused establishment like a tea and coffee shop, this can involve the handling and storage of drink ingredients, toppings, flavor additives, and preparation supplies that come into direct or indirect contact with customer beverages.

While only one violation was recorded, its critical classification and the resulting 32-point score indicate that inspectors assessed the condition as a significant food safety concern.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework governing food service establishments in New York City. Under these regulations, food service operators are required to protect all food items, supplies, and equipment from contamination at every stage of handling — from receiving and storage through preparation and service.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local jurisdictions including New York City, similarly emphasizes that food must be protected from cross-contamination by separating raw and ready-to-eat items, maintaining proper storage conditions, and ensuring that customer-accessible condiments are dispensed in a manner that prevents contamination from one customer to the next.

The requirement for single-service condiment containers or direct vendor dispensing exists to prevent situations where shared condiment vessels could introduce contaminants across multiple customers' food or beverages. This is particularly relevant in quick-service and beverage establishments where self-service stations may be present.

Inspection History

Gong Cha's prior inspection record at this location shows a pattern of generally favorable results before the February 2026 inspection:

  • September 30, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
  • March 18, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
  • June 21, 2023: Score 31 (no grade recorded)
  • February 24, 2022: Score 2, Grade A

The location earned Grade A scores on three of its four previous inspections. However, the June 2023 inspection also resulted in an elevated score of 31 points, suggesting that the February 2026 result is not entirely without precedent for this location. The establishment subsequently improved to a score of 12 in both 2024 inspections before the latest score of 32.

Data for this inspection was released by DOHMH on February 12, 2026, two days after the inspection was conducted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to food service establishments based on inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations and correspond to better grades. A score of 32 falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically offered a re-inspection opportunity, during which they can demonstrate corrected conditions and potentially earn a higher grade.

Consumers can look up current inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. Inspection scores and grades are public record and are required to be posted at the entrance of each establishment.

For additional information about food safety regulations and restaurant inspections in New York City, residents can visit the NYC Department of Health website or call 311.

More About This Restaurant

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