Manhattan, NY — Lai Rai, an Asian fusion restaurant at 76 Forsyth Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, received a score of 32 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 13, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to hand washing facilities.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 24, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified a single critical violation concerning hand washing access at the establishment. Specifically, inspectors cited the restaurant under violation code 05D for the absence of a hand washing facility in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas.
The citation further noted that hand washing facilities were not accessible, were obstructed, or were being used for non-hand washing purposes. Inspectors also documented issues with hot and cold running water availability or inadequate water pressure, as well as the absence of soap or an acceptable hand-drying device.
While this was the only violation recorded during the inspection, its classification as a critical violation carried significant point weight under the city's scoring system. No non-critical violations were cited during the inspection.
Food Safety Context
Hand washing is considered one of the most fundamental safeguards in food safety. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that food service establishments maintain properly equipped and accessible hand washing stations for all food handlers. These stations must provide hot and cold running water, soap, and a sanitary means of drying hands.
The FDA Food Code similarly identifies adequate hand washing facilities as a critical control point in preventing the transmission of foodborne illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, improper hand washing by food service workers is a contributing factor in a significant percentage of foodborne illness outbreaks.
Violation code 05D addresses multiple aspects of hand washing compliance, including the physical presence of facilities, their proximity to work areas, their accessibility, and whether they are properly supplied. A deficiency in any of these areas can result in the citation.
The 32-point score resulted entirely from this single critical violation, which reflects the substantial point value the city's inspection system assigns to hand hygiene deficiencies. The DOHMH scoring framework weights violations based on their potential impact on public health, with hand washing access ranked among the highest-risk categories.
Inspection History
No prior DOHMH inspection history is available for Lai Rai at this location. This appears to be the first recorded inspection for the establishment in the city's public database. It is worth noting that new establishments or those with limited inspection records may not yet have an established compliance history.
The action recorded for this inspection was that violations were cited. The restaurant was not recorded as closed at the time of the inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection. The scoring thresholds are as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — minimal violations identified
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — moderate violations identified
- Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations identified
Lai Rai's score of 32 places it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to improve their score and receive a higher grade. Restaurants may also request an adjudicatory hearing to contest inspection results through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
All New York City restaurant inspection results, including scores, grades, and specific violation details, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search inspection histories by restaurant name, address, or borough at the city's official inspection results portal.
For additional information about food safety standards and restaurant inspection procedures in New York City, residents can visit the DOHMH website or call 311.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Lai Rai including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.