Brooklyn, NY — Kaew Jao Jorm, a Thai restaurant located at 800 Grand Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a score of 37 during a health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Inspectors documented two critical violations related to food contamination prevention and surface sanitation.
What Inspectors Found
During the March 2 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified two critical violations at the restaurant:
The first violation (Code 06C) cited the restaurant for failure to protect food, supplies, or equipment from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Inspectors also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor. This violation addresses fundamental food safety protocols designed to prevent cross-contamination and exposure to environmental hazards.
The second violation (Code 06D) documented that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities when contamination may have occurred. Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, prep tables, utensils, and any equipment that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. Inadequate sanitation of these surfaces can allow the transfer of harmful bacteria between food items.
No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection.
Food Safety Context
The violations documented at Kaew Jao Jorm relate to core provisions of the NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment operations in New York City. Article 81 requires that all food be protected from contamination at every stage of handling, and that food contact surfaces be cleaned and sanitized according to established protocols.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local health regulations nationwide, specifies that food contact surfaces must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses, particularly when switching between different food types or after any interruption during which contamination may occur. These requirements exist to minimize the risk of foodborne illness caused by bacterial cross-contamination.
Proper surface sanitation typically involves a three-step process: washing with detergent, rinsing with clean water, and sanitizing with an approved chemical solution at the correct concentration. The condiment storage requirements cited in the first violation are designed to prevent customer-accessible food items from being exposed to contaminants.
Inspection History
The March 2026 inspection represents the highest score recorded for Kaew Jao Jorm in recent DOHMH data. The restaurant's prior inspection history shows:
- September 21, 2024: Score of 33, no grade recorded
- November 25, 2024: Score of 19, Grade B
The restaurant had previously improved from a score of 33 to 19 between its September and November 2024 inspections, earning a Grade B. The March 2026 score of 37 represents a significant increase, exceeding even the earlier 33-point result.
The inspection data referenced in this article was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026, three days after the inspection was conducted. Restaurants that receive initial inspection scores of 28 or above are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, at which point a letter grade is formally posted.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:
- 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. Critical violations carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations, reflecting their greater potential impact on public health.
Restaurants that do not receive an A grade on their initial inspection may request an adjudicatory hearing or await a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. During this period, a "Grade Pending" card may be displayed.
The public can access the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by visiting NYCRestaurantInspections.com.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Kaew Jao Jorm including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.