Manhattan, NY — Mala Panda / Ginza Don, a Chinese and Japanese restaurant located at 105 West 27th Street in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 20, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 130, placing the establishment in the C grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was publicly released by DOHMH on April 22, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the April 20 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the establishment. No critical violations were recorded during this visit.
The single violation cited was under Code 10G, which addresses dishwashing and ware washing practices. Specifically, inspectors found that the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware — including dishes, utensils, and equipment — was deficient.
Ware washing refers to the mechanical or manual process of cleaning and sanitizing food-contact items used in restaurant operations. When this process is not functioning properly or is not being carried out according to established standards, there is a potential for inadequately sanitized items to be returned to service.
Despite the single non-critical violation, DOHMH determined that conditions at the establishment required immediate corrective action, and the restaurant was ordered closed. The agency noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection, which is standard procedure before a closed establishment can apply to reopen.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments operating in New York City are required to maintain equipment, utensils, and food-contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary condition. This includes ensuring that dishwashing equipment operates at proper temperatures and with appropriate sanitizing concentrations.
The FDA Food Code, which informs many of the standards adopted at the state and local level, specifies that equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils must be sanitized after cleaning using methods that achieve a 5-log (99.999%) reduction of target microorganisms. Failure to meet ware washing standards can allow pathogens such as Norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli to persist on surfaces that come into direct contact with food or a diner's mouth.
DOHMH inspects all permitted food service establishments in New York City at least once per year. Inspections are unannounced and follow a standardized scoring methodology. When inspectors identify conditions that present an immediate public health hazard, they are empowered to order an establishment closed on the spot, regardless of the total number of violations found. A closure order remains in effect until a reinspection confirms that the conditions have been resolved.
Inspection History
According to data available through DOHMH, no prior inspection history is on record for Mala Panda / Ginza Don. This may indicate that the establishment is newly permitted, recently reopened under a new operator, or that prior records are not yet reflected in the public dataset.
- April 20, 2026: Score 130, Closed by DOHMH; ware washing violation (Code 10G) cited
Because there is no prior inspection record to reference, it is not possible to assess whether this closure represents a pattern of noncompliance or an isolated incident at this location.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a letter grading system for food service establishments based on inspection scores. Scores are calculated by assigning point values to each violation found during an inspection, with higher point values assigned to more serious violations.
- Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points — meets or exceeds food safety standards
- Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations identified; follow-up inspection required
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points — significant violations found; follow-up inspection required
A score of 130 falls well within the C grade range. When an establishment receives a score in the B or C range on an initial inspection, DOHMH schedules a re-inspection. The grade posted in the restaurant window reflects the score from that re-inspection, or in some cases a Grade Pending card is posted while the process continues.
Establishments that are closed by DOHMH must address the cited conditions and pass a reinspection before they are permitted to reopen to the public.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Mala Panda / Ginza Don including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.