Manhattan, NY — Sushi Hayashi, a Japanese restaurant located at 355 East 50th Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 21 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the upper end of the Grade B range, seven points below the Grade C threshold.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March inspection. The citation fell under Code 04H, which addresses raw, cooked, or prepared food that is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not handled in accordance with an established HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan.

Critical violations are considered by DOHMH to pose a direct or significant risk to public health. A single critical violation of this nature can carry substantial point weight under the city's scoring system, contributing meaningfully to the overall score of 21.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to implement food safety practices that prevent contamination at all stages of preparation and service. The HACCP framework, referenced in the Code 04H citation, is a federally recognized food safety management system outlined in the FDA Food Code. It requires operators to identify potential hazard points in food handling and implement controls to mitigate risk.

Food that is adulterated or subject to cross-contamination can introduce pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, or Staphylococcus aureus into the food supply, according to federal food safety guidance. Proper temperature control, storage separation, and sanitation protocols are central to HACCP compliance.

DOHMH released inspection data for this visit on March 24, 2026, approximately five days after the inspection was conducted.

Inspection History

Sushi Hayashi's recent inspection record shows variability in compliance scores:

  • March 19, 2026: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • July 29, 2025: Score 20 (Grade N — score pending grade assignment)
  • August 23, 2023: Score 0

The July 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 20 under a Grade N designation, which DOHMH assigns when a restaurant is being re-inspected and a letter grade is not yet posted publicly. The 2023 inspection produced a perfect score of zero, indicating no violations were identified at that time.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the following scale:

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

A score of 21 falls within the Grade B range but sits closer to the Grade C boundary than the Grade A threshold. Restaurants that score in the upper portion of the B range — generally considered 21 or above — face a greater risk of crossing into Grade C territory on a subsequent inspection.

Consumers can review current and historical inspection data for any city restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at nyc.gov. Grades must be posted in a visible location at each establishment per city regulation.

More About This Restaurant

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