Manhattan, NY — Tam Po Po Ramen, a Japanese restaurant at 1 Bennett Avenue in Washington Heights, received a score of 49 during a health inspection conducted on March 18, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 20, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, a significant decline from its most recent Grade A rating.
The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations, though the single critical finding carried substantial point weight.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors cited Tam Po Po Ramen under violation code 05E for a toilet facility issue. Specifically, the shared patron-employee toilet was accessible only through the kitchen, food preparation area, storage area, or utensil washing area.
This type of violation is classified as critical because it creates a direct pathway for contamination. When employees or patrons must walk through active food handling zones to reach restroom facilities, the risk of cross-contamination increases. Foot traffic through kitchen areas can introduce biological contaminants, and the proximity of restroom access to food preparation surfaces raises concerns about airborne particles and inadequate separation between sanitary facilities and food service operations.
The violation code 05E addresses a fundamental layout and facility design requirement. Restroom access routes are expected to be separated from areas where food is stored, prepared, or where utensils are cleaned, ensuring that the flow of foot traffic does not compromise food safety zones.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in New York City, including requirements for facility design, sanitation, and operational standards. The toilet facility access requirement reflects principles also outlined in the FDA Food Code, which emphasizes the importance of physical separation between sanitary facilities and food handling areas.
Facility layout violations differ from operational violations in that they often require structural or design changes to resolve rather than simple procedural adjustments. A restaurant cited for improper restroom access may need to establish an alternative route to the restroom that bypasses food preparation and storage areas, which could involve construction or renovation work.
The score of 49 points is notably high for a single violation, and the point assessment reflects the severity with which DOHMH weighs this type of critical facility deficiency. Restaurants are scored based on the number and severity of violations found, with critical violations carrying higher point values than general or non-critical findings.
Inspection History
Tam Po Po Ramen's prior inspection record shows a pattern of generally strong compliance before this most recent inspection:
- June 23, 2022: Score 0
- January 10, 2023: Score 3 (Grade A)
- February 5, 2024: Score 17
- November 19, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- March 18, 2026: Score 49
The restaurant had earned Grade A scores on its two most recent graded inspections, with a perfect score of zero violations recorded in June 2022. The February 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 17, which falls within Grade B range, though the grading outcome for that cycle was not recorded in the available data. The jump from a score of 12 in November 2024 to 49 in March 2026 represents a notable shift in the establishment's inspection performance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
A score of 49 falls well within the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection. The grade posted in the restaurant's window reflects the better outcome between the initial inspection and any subsequent re-inspection within the same cycle.
Restaurants receiving grades below A may also request an adjudicatory hearing through the DOHMH Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to contest specific findings.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the city's open data portal. Inspection data for Tam Po Po Ramen and all other NYC food service establishments is public record and updated regularly as new inspections are completed and processed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Tam Po Po Ramen including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.