Manhattan, NY — Nogari, a Korean restaurant located at 35 West 36th Street in Midtown Manhattan, received an inspection score of 38 during a health inspection conducted on December 4, 2025. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

The inspection identified one critical violation related to hand washing facilities, a fundamental requirement under food safety regulations.

What Inspectors Found

During the December 4 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented a critical violation under code 05D, citing the absence of a properly accessible hand washing facility. Specifically, the violation noted that no hand washing facility was available in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas.

The citation further documented that the hand washing facility was not accessible, was obstructed, or was being used for non-hand washing purposes. Inspectors also noted issues with hot and cold running water availability, inadequate water pressure, and the absence of soap or an acceptable hand-drying device.

Hand washing is considered one of the most critical components of food safety operations. The violation was the sole finding during the inspection, but its severity under DOHMH's scoring system resulted in the score of 38, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

The action taken by DOHMH was to cite the violations found during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Proper hand washing facilities are mandated under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments throughout the five boroughs. The regulation requires that hand washing stations be conveniently accessible to employees at all times during food preparation and service operations.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, identifies hand washing as a critical control point in preventing the transmission of foodborne illness. According to the FDA, inadequate hand washing is among the leading contributing factors to foodborne disease outbreaks in restaurant settings.

Code 05D violations are classified as critical because the absence of functional hand washing facilities directly impacts the ability of food handlers to maintain proper hygiene. Without accessible hand washing stations equipped with running water, soap, and drying devices, the risk of cross-contamination between surfaces, food products, and personnel increases.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Nogari in the DOHMH public database. This December 2025 inspection represents the first recorded inspection data for the establishment at this location.

It is worth noting that this inspection was conducted on December 4, 2025, but the data was released publicly by DOHMH on March 6, 2026. This gap between inspection and data publication is routine, as DOHMH processes and verifies inspection records before making them available through public datasets.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:

  • A: 0-13 points — The restaurant is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
  • B: 14-27 points — The restaurant has moderate violations that require correction
  • C: 28 or more points — The restaurant has significant violations requiring attention

With a score of 38, Nogari's inspection result falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants receiving a Grade C are permitted to continue operating but may request a re-inspection to improve their score and posted grade.

Restaurants that receive a grade of B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a defined window. The grade posted publicly at the establishment reflects the better outcome between the initial inspection and the re-inspection.

Public Resources

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The database provides current grades, violation details, and inspection histories for all inspected food service establishments across the five boroughs.

For questions about food safety or to report concerns about a food establishment, residents can contact 311 or visit the NYC DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

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