Manhattan, NY — Yoko-Cho, a Japanese restaurant at 137 East 13th Street in Manhattan's East Village, received a Grade C designation after earning a score of 28 during a health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The inspection, carried out by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), documented a plumbing and drainage violation at the establishment.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 13, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 4 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Yoko-Cho for one non-critical violation related to the restaurant's plumbing and drainage systems.

Specifically, inspectors documented issues under violation code 10B, which covers anti-siphonage and back-flow prevention devices, floor drainage, sewage disposal systems, and the proper disposal of condensation or liquid waste. The citation noted that required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, that equipment or flooring was not properly drained, or that the sewage disposal system was in disrepair or not functioning properly, with condensation or liquid waste being improperly disposed of.

While the violation was classified as non-critical rather than critical, the cumulative score of 28 points placed Yoko-Cho in the Grade C range under the city's restaurant grading system. The action recorded by DOHMH noted that violations were cited in the relevant area.

Food Safety Context

Plumbing and drainage requirements in New York City restaurants are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81 and align with standards outlined in the FDA Food Code. Properly functioning back-flow prevention devices are essential in food service establishments to prevent contaminated water from flowing backward into clean water supply lines. Without these safeguards, there is a potential risk of cross-contamination between wastewater and potable water used in food preparation, dishwashing, and handwashing.

Drainage systems that fail to operate correctly can lead to standing water on floors or around equipment, creating conditions that may harbor bacteria and attract pests. The NYC Health Code requires that all plumbing fixtures and systems in food service establishments be maintained in good repair and operated in compliance with applicable codes.

While the violation cited at Yoko-Cho was classified as non-critical, the scoring system assigns point values based on both the nature and severity of each condition observed. A score of 28 places a restaurant just at the threshold of the Grade C category.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Yoko-Cho in the DOHMH database. This may indicate that the March 4, 2026 inspection was the establishment's first recorded inspection, or that previous records are not reflected in the currently available dataset.

Restaurants receiving an initial grade of B or C are entitled to a re-inspection, typically within a set timeframe. The restaurant may post the Grade C card or may choose to post a "Grade Pending" card while awaiting a re-inspection, at which point the final grade will be determined based on the new score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. Points are assessed for each violation found, with more serious conditions receiving higher point values.

  • A: 0–13 points — The restaurant is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations.
  • B: 14–27 points — The restaurant has some conditions that need to be addressed.
  • C: 28 or more points — The restaurant has conditions that require significant improvement.

Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations, while higher scores reflect more numerous or more significant conditions. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are scheduled for a re-inspection, and the better of the two scores determines the final posted grade.

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. Detailed violation descriptions, scores, and grade histories are publicly accessible for all inspected food service establishments in the city.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Yoko-Cho including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.