Bronx, NY — Unchin Chin, a Latin American restaurant located at 2276 Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The establishment received a score of 63 points, placing it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspectors documented a critical violation related to the absence of accessible hand washing facilities.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 4 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at the establishment. The citation, recorded under violation code 05D, documented that no hand washing facility was available in or adjacent to the toilet room, nor within 25 feet of food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas. The inspection report further noted that hand washing facilities were not accessible, were obstructed, or were being used for non-hand washing purposes. Inspectors also recorded that there was no hot and cold running water or that water was at inadequate pressure, and that no soap or acceptable hand-drying device was available.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

The severity of the hand washing violation prompted DOHMH to take immediate action. The establishment was closed, with the agency noting that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection.

Food Safety Context

Hand washing is considered one of the most fundamental safeguards in food safety. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that food service establishments maintain accessible hand washing stations equipped with hot and cold running water, soap, and approved hand-drying devices. These stations must be located within 25 feet of any area where food is prepared, served, or where utensils are washed.

The FDA Food Code similarly identifies proper hand hygiene as a critical control point in preventing foodborne illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, inadequate hand washing by food service workers is a contributing factor in a significant percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks. The absence of a functional and accessible hand washing station makes it impossible for workers to maintain proper hygiene during food handling.

Violation code 05D is classified as a critical violation by DOHMH, meaning it represents a condition that is more likely to contribute directly to foodborne illness or food contamination. The city's inspection scoring system assigns higher point values to critical violations, reflecting the elevated risk they pose to public health.

The restaurant's score of 63 points is notably high. Under the NYC restaurant grading system, any score of 28 or above results in a Grade C, which is the lowest letter grade assigned. A score of 63 indicates conditions that the city's inspection framework considers to present meaningful food safety concerns.

Inspection History

This appears to be the first recorded inspection for Unchin Chin in DOHMH's publicly available database. No prior inspection history was available at the time of data release.

  • March 4, 2026: Score 63, Grade C (28+ points), closed by DOHMH — critical hand washing violation cited

The absence of prior inspection records may indicate that the establishment is relatively new or recently opened. DOHMH typically inspects new restaurants within their first operating year as part of the city's routine inspection cycle.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 6, 2026, two days after the inspection was conducted. There may be a delay between the date of an inspection and when results appear in the city's public database.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:

  • A Grade: 0 to 13 points — the establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
  • B Grade: 14 to 27 points — some conditions need improvement
  • C Grade: 28 or more points — significant violations were identified that require correction

Unchin Chin's score of 63 points placed it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct violations and potentially receive a higher grade.

When DOHMH closes an establishment, the restaurant must correct the conditions that led to the closure and pass a subsequent inspection before it is permitted to reopen to the public.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available on the city's official website. The database provides current grades, inspection dates, violation details, and historical records for each establishment. Residents can also call 311 to report food safety concerns or to inquire about a restaurant's inspection status.

More About This Restaurant

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