Manhattan, NY — Kotobuki, a Japanese restaurant at 30 Vandam Street in Manhattan, received a score of 37 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, a notable decline from its most recent Grade A rating.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 3 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the establishment:

Non-food contact surfaces or equipment were found to be made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This violation falls under DOHMH code 10F.

While this was the only violation formally cited during the inspection, the resulting score of 37 points indicates that the conditions observed were assessed as significant enough to warrant a Grade C designation. Each violation in the NYC inspection system carries a point value based on the nature and severity of the condition, and the cumulative score determines the restaurant's grade.

It is worth noting that the inspection record indicates no critical violations were cited during this visit. The entirety of the score was attributed to non-critical conditions related to equipment and surface maintenance.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program, administered by DOHMH under NYC Health Code Article 81, requires all food service establishments to maintain sanitary conditions across all areas of operation. Equipment and non-food contact surfaces must be constructed of approved materials, maintained in good repair, and positioned to allow thorough cleaning — requirements that align with the FDA Food Code's standards for equipment design and installation.

Properly maintained equipment and surfaces are essential components of a food safety management system. When surfaces cannot be adequately cleaned due to material composition, positioning, or condition, they can harbor bacteria and other contaminants that may eventually affect food preparation areas.

The violation cited at Kotobuki addresses these maintenance and accessibility standards. Under the NYC inspection scoring system, the point value assigned reflects the inspector's assessment of the condition's scope and potential impact on overall food safety at the establishment.

Inspection History

Kotobuki's prior inspection record shows a pattern of generally favorable results before this most recent visit:

  • 2024-08-06: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • 2024-03-07: Score 15

The August 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 9, well within Grade A range and indicating minimal violations at that time. The March 2024 inspection produced a score of 15, which falls in Grade B territory. The current score of 37 represents a significant increase in points assessed compared to both prior inspections on record.

Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection by DOHMH, at which point the establishment has the opportunity to address cited violations and potentially receive an improved score and grade.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total points accumulated during a health inspection. Fewer points indicate fewer or less severe violations:

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

A Grade C score of 28 or more points indicates that inspectors documented conditions requiring attention. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may contest their results through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and are generally scheduled for re-inspection.

Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection scores and grades are public record and are required to be posted at the entrance of each food service establishment.

The inspection data referenced in this article reflects conditions observed on the date of inspection and may not represent current conditions at the restaurant.

More About This Restaurant

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