Brooklyn, NY — Rua Thai, a Thai restaurant located at 204 Smith Street in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 26, 2026. The establishment received a score of 55 points, placing it in the C range under the city's restaurant grading system. Violations cited during the inspection required immediate corrective action before the restaurant could resume operations.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on May 28, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the May 26 visit. The violation, recorded under Code 06C, found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, condiments were not being dispensed in single-service containers or directly by the vendor as required.

This type of violation raises concern about cross-contamination risks. When condiments are left accessible in open or reusable containers without proper controls, there is potential for pathogens to be introduced through repeated customer contact or improper handling. Inspectors noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site before the closure was formalized.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the minimum standards restaurants must meet to operate safely. The program is designed to protect public health by identifying and correcting conditions that could lead to foodborne illness.

The FDA Food Code, which informs local health regulations across the country, identifies contamination of ready-to-eat foods as one of the primary risk factors associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. Code 06C violations specifically address the protection of food from contamination at multiple points in the service process — an area the FDA Food Code treats as critical because failures there can directly affect customers.

When a DOHMH inspector identifies a critical violation that cannot be resolved on the spot, or when the overall severity of conditions warrants it, the department has authority under Article 81 to order an immediate closure. The establishment may reopen once inspectors verify that the conditions leading to closure have been corrected.

Inspection History

Rua Thai's prior inspection record shows consistent compliance in recent years, which makes the May 2026 closure a notable departure from its recent performance:

  • October 27, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
  • July 31, 2023: Score 13, Grade A

Both previous inspections resulted in Grade A ratings with scores well within the lowest tier of the grading scale. A score of 12 or 13 indicates minimal violations and strong overall compliance with health code requirements. The jump to a score of 55 in May 2026 represents a significant change from the restaurant's established record.

It is worth noting that inspection results can vary based on the conditions present on a given day, staffing, operational changes, or other factors. A single low-scoring inspection does not necessarily reflect the restaurant's overall long-term practices, though all inspection results are part of the public record maintained by DOHMH.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a letter grading system based on the numeric score assigned during an inspection. The score reflects the total number of points assessed for violations found, with higher scores indicating more or more serious violations:

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

A score of 55 places Rua Thai firmly in the C range. When a restaurant receives a score that would result in a B or C grade, it has the option to request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. The grade displayed in the window reflects the most recent completed grading cycle.

Closures ordered by DOHMH are separate from the grading process. A restaurant can be closed regardless of its score if inspectors determine that conditions pose an immediate public health risk.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online search tool at the city's official health department website. Inspection reports include violation details, scores, and grade history, and are updated as new inspections are completed.

More About This Restaurant

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