Manhattan, NY — Xi'an Famous Foods, the well-known hand-pulled noodle and dumpling chain at 309 Amsterdam Avenue, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted March 26, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 21, placing it near the upper boundary of the B range and within six points of a Grade C classification. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 30, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit:

  • Code 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice present in the establishment's food or non-food areas.

Code 04L is among the more serious violations tracked by DOHMH. The presence of rodent evidence in a food-service environment carries significant public health implications, as rodents can contaminate food, food-contact surfaces, and storage areas. A single critical violation of this type contributed the bulk of the inspection score.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain facilities free of pests, including mice, rats, and insects. Section 81.22 specifically addresses pest control obligations, requiring operators to implement integrated pest management practices and eliminate conditions conducive to infestation.

The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's inspection standards, classifies active rodent evidence as a priority violation — one directly linked to the risk of foodborne illness. Establishments with priority violations are subject to re-inspection and, depending on cumulative scoring, potential closure orders.

A score of 21 sits at the higher end of the Grade B band. While it does not trigger automatic closure, it reflects a level of concern that health officials closely monitor through follow-up inspections.

Inspection History

Xi'an Famous Foods at this location has received the following scores in recent inspections:

  • 2025-10-20: Score 19
  • 2025-06-11: Score 22 (Grade Z — score pending grade assignment)
  • 2025-04-17: Score 24

The pattern indicates the restaurant has consistently scored in the mid-to-upper B range across multiple inspection cycles, with the current score of 21 representing a modest improvement over the prior two visits but still elevated relative to a Grade A threshold.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections based on the total score recorded:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

A Grade Z designation, seen in the June 2025 inspection, is used when a score would warrant a B or C grade but the restaurant opts to re-inspect before a grade is officially assigned. Grades must be posted prominently at the establishment's entrance.

Consumers can review the full inspection history for any permitted food-service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Inspections are conducted unannounced and are a matter of public record.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Xi'an Famous Foods including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.