Chow House

181 Bleecker Street, Manhattan, NY 10012

Failed · Oct 22, 2026 Directions
61
Poor BiteKarma score 61 out of 100
How the BiteKarma score works

Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.

At a glance

  • Keeps coming up: Food-contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred, cited 3 times, plus 10 other repeat issues.
  • Passed 1 of 5 graded inspections since 2023.
  • Last inspected Oct 22, 2026: failed with 5 violations, 2 critical.
  • 14 critical violations in the last two years.

Inspection history 5 visits

  1. 2026
  2. Failed Oct 22

    Cycle Inspection

    5 violations, 2 critical
    • Critical Food-contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred
    • Critical No handwashing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or warewashing area. Handwashing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-handwashing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device
    • Minor Swollen, leaking, rusted or otherwise damaged canned food to be returned to distributor not segregated from intact product and clearly labeled DO NOT USE
    • Minor Nonfood-contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit
    • Minor Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food-contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained
  3. 2025
  4. Failed Sep 12

    Cycle Inspection

    9 violations, 6 critical
    • Critical Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area
    • Critical Food, prohibited, from unapproved or unknown source, home canned or home prepared. Animal slaughtered, butchered or dressed (eviscerated, skinned) in establishment. Reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) fish not frozen before processing. ROP food prepared on premises transported to another site
    • Critical Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas
    • Critical No handwashing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or warewashing area. Handwashing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-handwashing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device
    • Critical Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer's refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor
    • Critical Cold TCS food item held above 41°F; smoked or processed fish held above 38°F; intact raw eggs held above 45°F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation
    • Minor Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests
    • Minor Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises
    • Minor Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of
  5. Failed Jul 8

    Cycle Inspection

    10 violations, 6 critical
    • Critical Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan
    • Critical Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer's refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor
    • Critical Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored
    • Critical Cold TCS food item held above 41°F; smoked or processed fish held above 38°F; intact raw eggs held above 45°F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation
    • Critical No handwashing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or warewashing area. Handwashing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-handwashing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device
    • Critical Food-contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred
    • Minor Single-service article not provided. Single-service article reused or not protected from contamination when transported, stored, dispensed. Drinking straws not completely enclosed in wrapper or dispensed from a sanitary device
    • Minor Nonfood-contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit
    • Minor Wash hands sign not posted near or above handwashing sink
    • Minor Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of
  6. 2024
  7. Passed Mar 11

    Cycle Inspection

    4 violations, 2 critical
    • Critical Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas
    • Critical Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan
    • Minor Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests
    • Minor Nonfood-contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit

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BiteKarma scores around Chow House, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.

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