Manhattan, NY — Mama's Fried Chicken, located at 2925 8th Avenue in Manhattan, received a score of 34 following a health inspection conducted on April 1, 2026, placing the restaurant in Grade C territory under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on April 6, 2026.
Inspectors documented two non-critical violations during the visit, both related to facility maintenance and equipment upkeep.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified two violations under NYC Health Code Article 81.
The first, cited under Code 10B, concerns the facility's drainage and liquid waste management. Inspectors noted that condensation or liquid waste was not being properly disposed of, and that equipment or flooring was not adequately drained. Proper drainage systems are required under NYC Health Code to prevent the accumulation of standing water, which can contribute to unsanitary conditions and potential pest activity.
The second violation, cited under Code 10F, involves non-food contact surfaces and equipment. Inspectors found that surfaces did not meet cleanliness standards or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or arranged to allow adequate cleaning access on all sides, above, and underneath. Maintaining cleanable surfaces and accessible equipment configurations is a standard requirement under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, designed to prevent the buildup of debris and biological matter in hard-to-reach areas.
Neither violation was classified as critical, meaning inspectors did not identify conditions directly linked to foodborne illness risk such as temperature abuse, contamination, or pest presence. However, the combined point value of the violations resulted in a score that falls within the Grade C range.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant grading program, administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, assigns scores based on the number and severity of violations found during unannounced inspections. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, restaurants are evaluated across a range of categories including food handling, temperature control, facility maintenance, and equipment standards.
Violations coded under 10B and 10F are maintenance-category violations. While not immediately linked to foodborne illness, these conditions are regulated because poorly drained or inaccessible equipment surfaces can, over time, contribute to conditions that do pose health risks. The FDA Food Code, which New York City's standards draw from, requires that all food facility surfaces be smooth, durable, and maintained in a way that allows effective cleaning.
Restaurants that score in the Grade C range are required to post their grade card visibly at the entrance. They may request a re-inspection, at which point a new score is calculated and a revised grade may be issued.
Inspection History
Mama's Fried Chicken has been inspected multiple times in recent years. Its prior record includes:
- November 29, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- December 18, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)
- October 6, 2022: Score 31
The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores in its two most recent prior inspections before the April 2026 visit. The 2022 inspection also resulted in a score above 28, consistent with Grade C-level findings. The April 2026 inspection represents a decline from the restaurant's more recent performance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or more
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants posting a B or C grade have the option to be re-inspected, after which they must post whichever grade reflects their most recent score.
Inspection records for all NYC restaurants are publicly available through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's online database. Diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, violation details, and current grade at the city's official health data portal.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Mama's Fried Chicken including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.