Manhattan, NY — Ho Won On Forsyth, a bakery and dessert shop located at 106 Forsyth Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026. The inspection yielded a score of 21, placing the establishment at the lower end of the B range — just seven points below the threshold at which a Grade C is assigned.
DOHMH released the inspection data on March 24, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit. No non-critical violations were recorded.
The critical violation — cited under Code 06D — states that a food contact surface was not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use, and following any activity during which contamination may have occurred. Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, utensils, preparation counters, and similar equipment that come into direct contact with food items during preparation or service.
A single critical violation of this type contributed the full 21-point score. Under DOHMH's scoring methodology, critical violations carry higher point values than non-critical violations because they are associated with conditions that pose a more direct risk to food safety.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain sanitary conditions throughout food preparation and storage areas. Proper sanitation of food contact surfaces is among the foundational requirements of both Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, which establishes national baseline standards for food safety in retail and food service settings.
Inadequate cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces can allow pathogens to transfer to food items during preparation. The FDA Food Code identifies this category of failure as a contributing factor in foodborne illness outbreaks.
The establishment remained open following the inspection. A Grade B placard must be posted at the restaurant's entrance, as required by DOHMH rules.
Inspection History
Ho Won On Forsyth had a clean inspection record in the two cycles preceding this visit:
- October 24, 2024: Score 12 — Grade A
- May 19, 2023: Score 7 — Grade A
The March 2026 score of 21 represents a significant increase from the prior cycle's score of 12, and marks the first time the establishment has received a grade below A in its available inspection history.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the number of points accumulated during an inspection. Points are added for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values.
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 21 falls in the upper half of the Grade B range. Establishments that score in the B or C range may request a re-inspection, at which point a new grade is issued based on the follow-up score.
Inspection records for all NYC food service establishments are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review current and historical inspection data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ho Won On Forsyth including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.