Brooklyn, NY — Abdullah Sweets & Restaurant, a Bangladeshi restaurant located at 91 Church Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on January 9, 2026. Inspectors documented critical violations related to food sourced from unapproved or unknown origins, marking the third time the establishment has been ordered closed since September 2024.

<a href=Abdullah Sweets & Restaurant restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">Illustrative image — not a photo of the actual business

The closure was recorded in DOHMH inspection data released on January 16, 2026. The inspection identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation at the establishment.

What Inspectors Found

The critical violation cited during the January 9 inspection involved food from unapproved or unknown sources. Under violation code 03A, inspectors documented one or more of the following conditions: food obtained from prohibited, unapproved, or unknown sources; home-canned or home-prepared food on the premises; animals slaughtered, butchered, or dressed within the establishment; Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) fish not frozen before processing; or ROP food prepared on premises and transported to another site.

This violation is classified as critical because food from unverified sources cannot be confirmed as safe for public consumption. Without proper sourcing documentation, there is no way to verify that food has been handled, stored, and transported under conditions that prevent contamination or foodborne illness.

Inspectors also cited a non-critical violation under code 18-13 for failure to comply with an order of the Board of Health, Commissioner, or Department. This violation indicates the establishment had not fully addressed requirements from a previous regulatory order.

Based on these findings, DOHMH ordered the establishment closed. According to the inspection record, violations requiring immediate action were addressed.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurant inspections are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with the FDA Food Code. These regulations establish strict requirements for food sourcing to protect public health.

Under these regulations, all food served in restaurants must come from approved, inspectable sources. This means suppliers must be licensed, food must be properly labeled with origin information, and the supply chain must be traceable. The prohibition on food from unknown or unapproved sources is one of the most fundamental food safety requirements, as it serves as the first line of defense against contaminated, adulterated, or unsafe food reaching consumers.

The FDA Food Code specifically requires that food establishments obtain food from sources that comply with applicable laws, including proper licensing, inspection, and documentation. Restaurants that cannot demonstrate their food comes from approved sources pose a direct risk to public health, which is why this violation is classified as critical and can result in immediate closure.

When DOHMH orders an establishment closed, the restaurant must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before it may reopen to the public.

Inspection History

Abdullah Sweets & Restaurant has a documented pattern of significant inspection findings over the past two years. The establishment's recent inspection history includes:

  • January 9, 2026: Closed by DOHMH, critical food source violation
  • October 31, 2025: Score 0 (Grade Z), reopened
  • July 25, 2025: Score 114, closed by DOHMH
  • March 11, 2025: Score 22
  • September 19, 2024: Score 0 (Grade P)
  • September 17, 2024: Score 10
  • September 12, 2024: Score 12
  • September 5, 2024: Score 72, closed by DOHMH
  • April 18, 2024: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • January 5, 2024: Score 29

The January 2026 closure is the third time DOHMH has ordered the restaurant closed. The establishment was previously closed in September 2024 with a score of 72 and again in July 2025 with a score of 114. Following the July 2025 closure, the restaurant reopened on October 31, 2025 after receiving a score of 0.

The restaurant's scores have varied significantly, ranging from 0 to 114. A score of 114, recorded in July 2025, indicates an exceptionally high number of violation points documented during that inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer violations:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest risk)
  • B: 14–27 points (moderate violations)
  • C: 28 or more points (significant violations)

A Grade Z indicates a restaurant that has been closed and is pending re-inspection. A Grade P indicates a grade is pending following an initial inspection cycle. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection for an opportunity to improve their score.

Inspection results for all New York City restaurants, including Abdullah Sweets & Restaurant, are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or borough to review current grades and detailed inspection findings at the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Abdullah Sweets & Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.