Mission Chinese is the hottest eatery in town — for the city’s rodent population.
Celebrity chef Danny Bowien’s wildly popular restaurant was shuttered by the city’s Department of Health for the second time in just over a month for pest-related issues, officials said.
The culinary creationist blamed the infestation of mice plaguing his Orchard Street hot spot on the Lower East Side on a nearby construction site that is driving the pests into the restaurant.
“There’s a big condominium going up there, behind the restaurant, and they started digging,” Bowien told Eater.com. “It’s the Lower East Side, so we’ve been inundated with a pest problem, and we had no one to point the finger at but ourselves.”
Bowien has earned a loyal following since opening Mission Chinese in 2012, with long lines of hungry patrons often stretching out the door for his spicy Asian creations.
But despite all the buzz, Mission has had its share of health violations.
On Oct. 3 it was shut down for the first time after inspectors found evidence of mice, as well as unsanitary food surfaces and improperly labeled toxic chemicals near food, according to the DOH Web site.
“We’ve been struggling with this space since we took it over,” Bowien added. “I had no idea what I was doing when I opened here.”
Bowien said he worked hard to get his kitchen in order but was unable to get the rodent problem under control, prompting the DOH on Monday to again shut him down.
“Mission Chinese restaurant was closed because it has a significant mouse infestation that requires correction,” a DOH spokeswoman said in a statement.
“In addition, the inspection found food held at unsafe temperatures, and conditions that contribute to the presence of pests,” the spokeswoman added.
Meanwhile, customers showed up for lunch only to find the restaurant shuttered with a note from Bowien on the door explaining the issue and promising to reopen as soon as possible.
“I live on the Upper East Side and came all the way down here,” said Elizabeth Robinson, 42. “I’m hungry and I heard they have great Chinese food.”