Queens, NY — Asian Jewels Seafood Restaurant, located at 133-30 39th Avenue in Flushing, received a score of 34 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 4, 2026. A score of 28 or above results in a Grade C, the lowest passing grade in New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 7, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the April inspection. The cited violation — Code 02G — involves the improper temperature control of cold, temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items. Under this code, cold TCS foods must be maintained at or below 41°F. Specific provisions also require smoked or processed fish to be held at or below 38°F, intact raw eggs at or below 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods at temperatures specified by their labeling or applicable standards.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this visit.
Food Safety Context
Temperature control is a foundational element of safe food handling. When cold foods are held above required temperatures, bacterial growth can accelerate, raising the risk of foodborne illness. NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishments in New York City and sets the standards inspectors apply during unannounced visits. These requirements are broadly consistent with the FDA Food Code, which serves as a national model for food safety regulation.
Critical violations — those that pose a direct risk to public health — carry higher point values in DOHMH's scoring system than non-critical violations, which are typically related to facility conditions or recordkeeping. A single critical violation like Code 02G can significantly affect a restaurant's total score and resulting letter grade.
Inspection History
The April 2026 inspection is part of a longer record for this location. Prior inspections include:
- April 4, 2026: Score 34 (Grade C), one critical violation cited
- September 12, 2025: Score 5 (Grade Z)
- September 10, 2025: Score 54, closed by DOHMH
- June 16, 2025: Score 41
- December 18, 2023: Score 20 (Grade B)
- April 5, 2023: Score 24
The inspection record shows significant variability. A September 2025 closure followed a score of 54 — well above the Grade C threshold — and was succeeded two days later by a reinspection that recorded a score of 5, indicating the conditions that led to the closure had been addressed. Grade Z designations are typically assigned to establishments undergoing the adjudication process or awaiting a posted grade following a reinspection cycle.
The June 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 41, also a Grade C, suggesting temperature or handling standards have been a recurring concern. Earlier inspections in 2023 resulted in scores that fell within the Grade B range.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City requires most food service establishments to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location. Grades are assigned based on the total point score from an unannounced DOHMH inspection:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or more
Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. When a restaurant scores in the B or C range on an initial inspection, it may request a second, "compliance" inspection before a grade is officially posted. The grade ultimately displayed reflects that process.
Inspection reports for all New York City restaurants are available through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, accessible via the city's open data portal at data.cityofnewyork.us. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review full inspection histories, including violation details and scores.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Asian Jewels Seafood Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.