Manhattan, NY — Sanku Maots'ai, a Chinese restaurant located at 167 1st Avenue in Manhattan, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 31, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 34, placing the establishment in the C grade category. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 2, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation and two non-critical violations during the March 31 visit.
The critical violation, cited under Code 06D, found that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity where contamination may have occurred. Food contact surfaces — including cutting boards, utensils, prep tables, and equipment that directly touches food — are required under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code to be cleaned and sanitized at defined intervals to prevent cross-contamination and the potential spread of foodborne illness.
Two non-critical violations were also recorded. The first, under Code 10F, noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or arranged to allow cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. The second, under Code 10B, identified the absence of required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, or issues with equipment drainage, sewage disposal, condensation, or liquid waste disposal. Both conditions, while classified as non-critical, contribute to the overall sanitation profile of the establishment and factor into the final inspection score.
Food Safety Context
Food contact surface sanitation is among the most closely monitored areas in restaurant health inspections. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's local standards under NYC Health Code Article 81, requires that food contact surfaces be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use, after handling raw meat or poultry, and any time a surface may have become contaminated. Failure to follow these procedures can create conditions where pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria may be transferred to ready-to-eat foods.
Back-flow prevention requirements under Code 10B exist to protect the potable water supply from contamination caused by pressure differentials in plumbing systems. These devices are mandated by New York City plumbing and health codes to prevent potentially contaminated water from flowing backward into clean water lines.
Non-food contact surface violations under Code 10F, while not directly linked to food handling, indicate that areas of the establishment may be difficult to clean thoroughly, which can contribute to pest harborage and general sanitation concerns over time.
DOHMH inspects approximately 27,000 food service establishments in New York City each year. Restaurants are subject to unannounced inspections, and scores reflect conditions observed on the date of inspection only.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Sanku Maots'ai in the DOHMH public database. This appears to be the first recorded inspection for this establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system translates inspection scores into letter grades posted publicly at each establishment. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or higher
A lower score reflects fewer violations and better overall compliance. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, at which point a grade card reflecting the re-inspection result is posted. Establishments that are not in compliance at re-inspection may be subject to additional enforcement action.
The full inspection record for Sanku Maots'ai, including any future re-inspection results, is publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review current and historical inspection data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Sanku Maots'ai including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.