ITHACA TAICHI TEA
740 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850 · Restaurant (Restaurant)
Inspection summary
ITHACA TAICHI TEA has been inspected 8 times by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) since March 24, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 5, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
3 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Cleaning and sanitizing.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded 10 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 22, 2026. For example:
Improper thawing procedures used
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 22, 2026. For example:
Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 5, 2026. For example:
Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 14, 2023. For example:
Food workers do not wash hands thoroughly after visiting the toilet, coughing, sneezing, smoking or otherwise contaminating their hands.
About this data
These results come from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
8 inspections
- Re-Inspection
1 infraction
- 11C: Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Not Critical Violation
- 11C: Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
- Not Critical Violation
- 5A: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or below 45�F during cold holding, except smoked fish not kept at or below 38�F during cold holding.
- Critical Violation
- 12E: Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Not Critical Violation
- 11C: Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Not Critical Violation
- 7A: All poultry, poultry stuffings, stuffed meats and stuffings containing meat are not heated to 165�F or above.
- Critical Violation
- 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 9B: Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Not Critical Violation
- 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Not Critical Violation
- 9B: Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
7 infractions
- 9B: Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Not Critical Violation
- 6A: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or above 140�F during hot holding.
- Critical Violation
- 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
- Not Critical Violation
- 3B: Food workers do not wash hands thoroughly after visiting the toilet, coughing, sneezing, smoking or otherwise contaminating their hands.
- Critical Violation
- 12E: Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Not Critical Violation
- 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Not Critical Violation
- 8A: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Not Critical Violation
- 9B: Tobacco is used; eating, drinking in food preparation, dishwashing food storage areas
- Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 6A: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or above 140�F during hot holding.
- Critical Violation
- 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
- Not Critical Violation
- 5C: Potentially hazardous foods are not stored under refrigeration except during necessary preparation or approved precooling procedures (room temperature storage).
- Critical Violation
- 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Critical Violation
- 5A: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or below 45�F during cold holding, except smoked fish not kept at or below 38�F during cold holding.
- Critical Violation
- 6A: Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or above 140�F during hot holding.
Nearby inspected facilities
- PLAYA BOWLS
740 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850
4 inspections
- PANERA BREAD BAKERY-CAFE #1381
748 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850
40 inspections
- CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL #1661
740 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850
47 inspections
- TEXAS ROADHOUSE
719-725 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850
17 inspections
- POKELAVA - MEADOW STREET
722 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850
1 inspection
- HOT POT MEETS BBQ
722 SOUTH MEADOW STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850
6 inspections
- FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES - ITHACA
222 ELMIRA ROAD, ITHACA, NY 14850
4 inspections
- LIAN HUA CHINESE KITCHEN
222 ELMIRA ROAD, ITHACA, NY 14850
28 inspections