Gammeeok, a popular Korean restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, has been closed after failing a safety inspection conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The closure comes following allegations that the restaurant served a rat in a couple’s takeout order.
According to Mail Online, Gammeeok failed the health and safety inspection when inspectors discovered rat droppings inside the establishment in Midtown Manhattan.
A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams stated that health officials are actively investigating the restaurant and the accusations.
‘Our top priority is protecting the health of New Yorkers. If a restaurant poses a threat to diners, they will be shut down,’ said Fabien Levy.
Gammeeok’s owners denied the claims and released footage showing the preparation of the couple’s food, alleging that the accusations are false.
Sources speaking with TMZ revealed that health department inspectors found rat droppings inside the restaurant, in addition to other violations such as the absence of a trained supervisor on-site and improper food storage.
The restaurant was also found to lack the required permits, despite previous warnings from Health Department officials.
Levy stated that the disturbing allegations prompted an immediate investigation: ‘No New York City restaurant is authorized to have mice or rats on the menu, and we are looking into the matter further.’
Gammeeok must correct the violations, as well as pay any potential fines, if they wish to reopen in the future. Signage on the restaurant’s doors indicates that they have been shut down by the Health Department and are also closed for maintenance.
The controversy began when Eunice Lucero-Lee and her husband Jason Lee shared video and photos of their meal on Instagram, claiming it contained a rat. In response, the restaurant contested the couple’s claims, stating that they do not ‘make sense.’
The restaurant further alleged that the couple had previously written a negative review for another Korean restaurant six years ago, claiming to have found ‘a large bug’ in their takeout soup, but deleted the post after it gained attention.
