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Sao Mai

203 1 Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10003
Southeast Asian
Last inspected: May 20, 2025
74
Score
Medium Risk NYC Grade: A

Public records show four inspections at Sao Mai stretching back to 2023. Inspectors last stopped by on May 20, 2025. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with violation counts hovering near four.

When inspectors have written things up, non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

Sao Mai scores about where you'd expect for a Manhattan restaurant. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

4
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 20, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
06F
Thawing procedure improper.
09B
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.
10B
Non-food 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.
10F
74
Jan 15, 2025
Administrative Miscellaneous / Initial Inspection
No violations found.
100
Jul 31, 2023
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
5 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.
02B
Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
06D
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.
06C
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.
02G
Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
06E
Dishwashing and ware washing: cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
10G
Non-food 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.
10F
43
Apr 11, 2023
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
4 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
04K
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
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.
02G
Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
06D
Dishwashing and ware washing: cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
10G
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
50

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sao Mai last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Sao Mai on file is from May 20, 2025. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Sao Mai?

Across the inspection record, non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Sao Mai.

How does Sao Mai compare to other restaurants in Manhattan?

Sao Mai most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is about the same as the Manhattan average of 77.

Has Sao Mai's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Recent inspections at Sao Mai have produced about the same number of violations as earlier ones, holding around four per visit.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Sao Mai means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is Sao Mai inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Sao Mai is inspected around two times per year on average.

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