Chinatown Stalwart Great N.Y. Noodletown Shuttered by Health Department

Great N.Y. Noodletown might not doing so great right now. The restaurant — opened in Chinatown in 1981 and one of the most well-known places in the neighborhood — closed this month after a health department inspection found more than 100 violation points. The inspection, conducted on January 12, showed violations such as live roaches and issues with refrigeration.

The restaurant could not be reached for comment on whether the closure would be permanent or when they might reopen. Great N.Y. Noodletown’s official website has a page that acknowledges that the inspection indeed took place on January 12 but offers no further information about its implications.

The sanitary violations marked against Noodletown include evidence of rats or live rats, evidence of mice or live mice, live roaches present, several issues with refrigeration and contamination, and improper storage. A total of 116 points was docked.

The restaurant has long been known as a place for cheap eats and Cantonese classics, including for late-night restaurant visits. Back in 1994, Ruth Reichl gave the restaurant a two-star review, praising the wonton soup and chow fun with beef and yellow chives, and since then, it’s remained a stalwart of Chinatown dining.

The last graded inspection of the restaurant took place in August 2017 and reflected violations adding up to just 25 points, which converts to a B grade.