Manhattan, NY — Loong Ramen, a Chinese restaurant located at 21 South End Avenue in Manhattan's Battery Park City neighborhood, received a score of 82 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 7, 2026. The score places the establishment in the Grade C category, which applies to restaurants scoring 28 points or higher. Inspection data was released publicly on April 9, 2026.

Two critical violations were documented during the inspection. No non-critical violations were recorded.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified two critical violations during the April visit.

The first, cited under Code 06E, involved sanitized equipment or utensils — including in-use food dispensing utensils — that were improperly used or stored. Under FDA Food Code standards and NYC Health Code Article 81, sanitized equipment must be stored in a manner that protects it from contamination following the sanitization process. Improper storage of sanitized items can reintroduce pathogens and compromise food safety at the point of service.

The second violation, cited under Code 04A, documented the absence of a manager or supervisor holding a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). New York City requires that at least one manager or supervisor on duty during food service operations hold an FPC, a credential issued after completing a food safety training course approved by the DOHMH. The FPC requirement is designed to ensure that a trained individual is responsible for safe food handling practices at all times during restaurant operations.

Both violations are classified as critical, meaning they represent conditions that, if uncorrected, could directly contribute to foodborne illness.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation standards for food service establishments. Inspections are unannounced and conducted by DOHMH environmental health inspectors throughout the year.

The FDA Food Code, which informs many of the city's standards, identifies improper equipment storage and the absence of a certified food protection manager as risk factors associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. The Food Protection Certificate requirement in particular reflects research showing that establishments with trained managerial staff are better positioned to identify and correct food handling risks before they result in illness.

A score of 82 is substantially above the Grade C threshold of 28 points. Each violation carries a point value assigned based on its assessed public health risk, with critical violations generally carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for this location in DOHMH public records. This may indicate the establishment is newly opened or that prior records are not yet reflected in the publicly available dataset.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system is based on inspection scores:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates a high standard of food safety compliance
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates compliance issues that require correction
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher — indicates more significant compliance issues

Restaurants that receive a grade of B or C may request a re-inspection, at which point they receive the grade earned at the second inspection. During the period between an initial inspection and a re-inspection, establishments may post a "Grade Pending" card in lieu of a letter grade.

Inspection records for Loong Ramen and all New York City restaurants are available through the DOHMH's public restaurant inspection database at NYC Open Data. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review current and historical inspection results.

More About This Restaurant

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