Manhattan, NY — Sawaan Thai, a Thai restaurant located at 45 West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 31 during a health inspection conducted on December 22, 2025, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) documented two non-critical violations related to pest conditions and dishwashing deficiencies.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 3, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the December 2025 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Sawaan Thai for two non-critical violations:

The first violation, coded 08A, noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This violation indicates that inspectors identified environmental conditions within the restaurant that could attract or shelter pests, such as gaps in walls, improper food storage, or accumulated debris in areas that could serve as nesting sites.

The second violation, coded 10G, cited deficiencies in dishwashing and ware washing procedures, specifically in the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment. This violation indicates that the restaurant's dishwashing processes did not meet the standards required to ensure proper sanitization of items used in food preparation and service.

While neither violation was classified as critical, their combined point values resulted in a total score of 31, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must maintain. These regulations require that restaurants maintain environments free from conditions that could harbor pests and that all food-contact surfaces, utensils, and equipment be properly cleaned and sanitized.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, specifies that food-contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized at proper intervals and that establishments must implement effective pest management practices. Proper ware washing procedures, including appropriate water temperatures and sanitizer concentrations, are essential components of preventing foodborne illness.

Conditions conducive to pests are a common finding in urban restaurant environments. DOHMH requires establishments to maintain structural integrity and cleanliness standards that minimize opportunities for pest harborage, including sealing entry points and maintaining clean storage areas.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Sawaan Thai in the DOHMH database. This December 2025 inspection represents the first recorded inspection for this establishment at this location. This could indicate that the restaurant is a relatively new establishment, or that it may have operated under a different name or permit previously.

Restaurants receiving a Grade C are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to address cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score that would qualify them for a Grade A or Grade B.

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 documented during an inspection. The scoring thresholds are:

  • Grade A: 0 to 13 points — indicates minimal violations
  • Grade B: 14 to 27 points — indicates moderate violations
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — indicates more significant violations

Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and potential impact on public health. Critical violations, which pose an immediate risk to public health, carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may choose to post the letter grade or a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting a re-inspection or adjudication at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

Consumers can look up the inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection results for Sawaan Thai and all other NYC restaurants are public record and can be accessed at any time.

More About This Restaurant

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