Brooklyn, NY — Nora Thai, a Thai restaurant at 176 North 9th Street in Williamsburg, received a score of 38 points — a Grade C — following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 23, 2026. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 26, 2026. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to the improper cooling of temperature-controlled food.
What Inspectors Found
The violation recorded during the March inspection falls under Code 02H of the NYC Health Code, which governs the cooling of temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) foods after cooking or removal from hot holding. Inspectors found that food was not cooled using an approved method — specifically, that internal temperatures were not reduced from 140°F to 70°F within two hours, and from 70°F to 41°F within four additional hours, as required.
This violation is classified as critical because of the direct risk improper cooling poses to public health. When cooked food remains in the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 140°F — for extended periods, conditions become favorable for the growth of harmful bacteria including Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacillus cereus. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food handling and safety practices for all food service establishments operating in New York City. The cooling requirements cited in this inspection are consistent with standards established in the FDA Food Code, which mandates rapid cooling of cooked foods to limit bacterial proliferation.
Approved cooling methods under these standards include the use of shallow pans, ice-water baths, blast chillers, and portioning food into smaller quantities to accelerate heat transfer. Establishments are expected to monitor internal food temperatures throughout the cooling process and document compliance.
A Grade C is assigned when a restaurant's total inspection score reaches 28 or more points. Critical violations — those with a direct link to foodborne illness risk — carry higher point values than non-critical violations, and a single critical finding can meaningfully affect a restaurant's overall score.
Inspection History
Nora Thai's inspection record over the past three years reflects recurring scores at or near the Grade C threshold. DOHMH records document the following inspection outcomes:
- November 6, 2025: Score 27
- July 23, 2025: Score 26 (Grade B)
- January 8, 2025: Score 32
- March 14, 2024: Score 46 (Grade C)
- May 22, 2023: Score 32
The restaurant's scores have ranged from 26 to 46 points across five inspection cycles since May 2023. The most recent result of 38 points continues a pattern in which the restaurant has alternated between Grade B and Grade C outcomes.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades to food service establishments following each completed inspection cycle, based on the total point score recorded:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Grades are required to be posted visibly at the restaurant's entrance. Establishments that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a reinspection before a grade card is officially posted. The grade displayed reflects the outcome of the most recently completed inspection cycle.
Complete inspection records for all NYC restaurants — including violation codes, point values, and inspection history — are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection search tool at nyc.gov/health.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Nora Thai including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.