Manhattan, NY — Nana Thai Street, a Thai restaurant located at 31 East 21st Street in Manhattan's Flatiron neighborhood, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted May 4, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 75, placing it in the C range under the city's grading system. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on May 6, 2026.

The closure marks the second time the restaurant has been ordered closed within the past seven months.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited three critical violations and one non-critical violation during the May 4 inspection.

The most serious findings involved evidence of pests throughout the establishment. Inspectors documented the presence of live mice or evidence of mice in food and non-food areas of the restaurant, recorded under violation code 04L. Filth flies — including house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies — were also identified in food and non-food areas, cited under code 04N.

A third critical violation, code 06C, was recorded for food, supplies, or equipment not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, or display. This violation also covers condiments that are not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

The single non-critical violation, code 08A, noted that the establishment was not free of harborage conditions or other conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests — findings consistent with the pest-related critical violations cited during the same visit.

DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments operating in New York City are required to maintain conditions that prevent pest entry and harborage, protect food from contamination, and meet sanitary standards across all areas of food handling and storage.

The violations cited at Nana Thai Street align with provisions of the FDA Food Code, which identifies pest presence and inadequate food protection as significant contributors to foodborne illness risk. Rodents and flies are capable of transmitting pathogens — including Salmonella, E. coli, and other bacteria — to food contact surfaces and food itself.

When DOHMH inspectors identify conditions that pose an imminent public health hazard, they are authorized to order an establishment closed until the conditions are corrected and the location passes a reinspection.

Inspection History

The May 2026 closure is part of a pattern of inspection challenges at this location. The restaurant's recent history includes:

  • May 4, 2026: Score 75 (Grade C range), closed by DOHMH
  • January 14, 2026: Score 36
  • October 23, 2025: Score 2 (Grade Z)
  • October 20, 2025: Score 75, closed by DOHMH
  • April 29, 2025: Score 43 (Grade C)
  • January 15, 2025: Score 23
  • October 25, 2023: Score 22
  • September 28, 2023: Score 51 (Grade C)

The restaurant scored a 2 — well within Grade A range — on October 23, 2025, three days after its previous closure on October 20, 2025, suggesting the location was able to address violations and pass reinspection. However, scores have since increased significantly, culminating in the current closure.

Prior to 2025, the restaurant received scores of 22 and 51 during inspections in October 2023, with the higher score placing it in the C range.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location. Grades are assigned based on inspection scores as follows:

  • A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14–27 points
  • C: Score of 28 or more points (most violations)

A score of 75 points falls well into the C range. When a restaurant is closed by DOHMH, it is not eligible to post a grade until it passes a reinspection. The restaurant may reopen once inspectors determine that conditions have been corrected.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at the NYC Open Data portal. Consumers can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, violation details, and current grade status using the establishment's name or address.

More About This Restaurant

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