Manhattan, NY — Xiang La Hot Pot, a Chinese restaurant located at 34 West 32nd Street in Manhattan's Koreatown corridor, received a score of 59 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 9, 2026. The score places the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
Inspectors documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 11, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The critical violation cited during the inspection involved adulterated, contaminated, or cross-contaminated food that was not handled or discarded in accordance with the establishment's HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan. Recorded under violation code 04H, this finding indicates that inspectors identified food items that did not meet safety standards for preparation, storage, or handling.
HACCP plans are structured food safety protocols that restaurants are required to maintain for certain preparation methods. When food is found to be adulterated or cross-contaminated outside of these protocols, it represents a direct risk to consumer health, as it can lead to foodborne illness from bacterial contamination or exposure to allergens.
Inspectors also documented a non-critical violation under code 10F, noting that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning. While classified as non-critical, sanitation issues with equipment surfaces can contribute to conditions that allow bacterial growth and pest harborage over time.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the requirements for food service establishments. The Health Code incorporates principles from the FDA Food Code, which provides science-based guidance for food safety practices at the retail level.
Violation code 04H relates directly to the FDA Food Code's requirements for preventing food contamination and ensuring proper implementation of HACCP protocols. Adulterated food — as defined under these regulations — includes food that has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions where it may have been rendered injurious to health or contaminated with filth.
The equipment sanitation violation cited under code 10F reflects requirements in NYC Health Code Article 81 that all food establishment surfaces and equipment be designed, constructed, and maintained to be cleanable and kept in good repair.
Inspection History
Xiang La Hot Pot's inspection record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores over the past several years:
- March 9, 2026: Score 59
- May 28, 2024: Score 38
- January 15, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)
- August 18, 2022: Score 29
The restaurant earned a Grade A with a score of 10 in January 2023, indicating strong compliance at that time. However, subsequent inspections have recorded progressively higher scores, with the May 2024 inspection resulting in a score of 38 and the most recent inspection nearly doubling that figure at 59. This upward trend in scores reflects a decline in inspection performance over the past two years.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total points accumulated during a health inspection. Points are assigned for each violation found, with more serious violations carrying higher point values. The grading thresholds are:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A lower score indicates fewer or less serious violations and reflects better compliance with health code requirements. Xiang La Hot Pot's score of 59 is more than four times the maximum threshold for a Grade A.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, at which point a new grade may be issued. Grade cards must be posted at the entrance of the establishment where they are visible to the public.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection data referenced in this article is sourced from public records maintained by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Xiang La Hot Pot including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.