Manhattan, NY — Pho Bang, a Southeast Asian restaurant located at 157 Mott St in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted June 9, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 66, placing the establishment in the C range under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on June 11, 2026.

The closure marks the second time this year that the restaurant has been ordered closed by health authorities.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited two critical violations during the June 9 visit, both of which required immediate corrective action as a condition of the closure order.

The first violation, Code 06D, documented that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use or following any activity during which contamination may have occurred. Proper sanitation of food contact surfaces — including cutting boards, prep tables, and utensils — is a foundational requirement under the NYC Health Code and FDA Food Code to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of foodborne pathogens.

The second violation, Code 02B, found that hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were not being held at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Foods held in the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 140°F — are at increased risk of bacterial growth. Common TCS foods include cooked meats, poultry, rice, and cooked vegetables.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The violations cited at Pho Bang fall under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment requirements in New York City, as well as the FDA Food Code, which provides the scientific and regulatory foundation for safe food handling practices nationwide.

Code 02B temperature violations are among the more serious categories tracked by DOHMH because improper hot-holding creates conditions that can allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus to multiply to unsafe levels. The FDA Food Code establishes 140°F as the minimum safe holding temperature for hot TCS foods specifically to prevent this bacterial growth window from opening.

Code 06D surface sanitation violations address a related risk: improperly cleaned surfaces can serve as a vehicle for cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods, or between different food preparation cycles. DOHMH requires that food contact surfaces be washed with detergent, rinsed with clean water, and sanitized with an approved chemical solution or by heat, following any task that may have introduced contamination.

The presence of two critical violations at the time of inspection was sufficient to trigger the closure order under DOHMH enforcement protocols.

Inspection History

Pho Bang has a notable inspection record in 2026. The June 9 closure is the restaurant's second this calendar year:

  • March 4, 2026: Score 53 (Grade N), Closed by DOHMH
  • March 19, 2026: Score 2 (Grade Z), Reopened
  • June 9, 2026: Score 66 (Grade C), Closed by DOHMH

The March 4 closure resulted in a score of 53, and the restaurant was subsequently reinspected on March 19, when it received a passing score of 2 and was allowed to reopen. The Grade Z designation noted on the March 19 reopening record is a provisional classification used while a score is under adjudication or pending grade posting.

The June 9 score of 66 represents a significant increase from the reinspection score that preceded the restaurant's previous reopening.

Under DOHMH procedures, a closed establishment must address the conditions that prompted the closure and pass a reinspection before it is permitted to reopen. The reopening inspection date for the June 9 closure had not been publicly posted as of the data release date.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

The DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the score recorded at their most recent scored inspection. Scores reflect the number of points assessed for violations, with higher scores indicating more or more serious violations:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 or more points

A score of 66 places Pho Bang well within Grade C territory. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade during their initial inspection may request a reinspection before a grade is officially posted. Grades must be displayed in a window visible from the street.

Critical violations — the category that encompasses both violations cited on June 9 — are weighted more heavily in scoring because they are directly associated with conditions that can lead to foodborne illness. Non-critical violations address conditions that, while not immediately dangerous, are considered out of compliance with health code standards.

Resources

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online database at the NYC Open Data portal or via the city's Restaurant Grades website. Records include scores, violation codes, and grade history for each establishment. Inspection data is updated on a rolling basis as new inspections are completed and results are processed.

Anyone who believes they have experienced a foodborne illness connected to a restaurant meal can file a complaint with the DOHMH through 311 or the department's online complaint system.

More About This Restaurant

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