Manhattan, NY — Thai 72, a Thai restaurant located at 128 West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 24, 2026. The establishment recorded a score of 21, placing it near the upper boundary of the B range and six points from the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 30, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit:

  • Code 04K: Evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas.

This is the only violation cited during the inspection. Under DOHMH scoring methodology, critical violations carry greater point penalties than non-critical violations because they represent conditions most directly linked to foodborne illness risk or pest activity. A single critical violation of this nature contributed the full 21-point score.

Food Safety Context

Evidence of rodent activity in a food service establishment is addressed under NYC Health Code Article 81 and is consistent with guidance in the FDA Food Code, which identifies pest control as a foundational requirement for safe food handling environments. Rodent presence in food or non-food areas poses a risk of contamination to food contact surfaces, stored ingredients, and equipment.

DOHMH classifies violations as critical or general. Critical violations — including those involving pests — are weighted more heavily in the scoring system because of their direct potential impact on public health. An establishment scoring between 14 and 27 points receives a Grade B, which must be posted publicly at the entrance.

A score of 21 sits in the upper portion of the B range. Scores of 28 or above result in a Grade C or, depending on circumstances, a closure order or administrative tribunal referral.

Inspection History

Thai 72 has a varied inspection record in recent years:

  • January 22, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • July 3, 2024: Score 24
  • April 12, 2023: Score 14 (Grade B)
  • August 9, 2022: Score 46

The restaurant most recently held a Grade A following its January 2025 inspection, when inspectors recorded a score of 13. Prior to that, the establishment received a Grade B in April 2023 with a score of 14. The August 2022 inspection produced a score of 46, which falls well above the Grade C threshold.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections based on total point scores:

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

Restaurants that score above 13 on an initial inspection are re-inspected. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle. Consumers can look up individual restaurant inspection results through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Thai 72 including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.