Queens, NY — Bamboo Ya, a Japanese restaurant at 69-12 Austin Street in Forest Hills, received a Grade B score of 26 during a health inspection conducted on December 2, 2025. The score places the restaurant at the upper end of the Grade B range, just one point below the 28-point threshold that triggers a Grade C designation.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 3, 2026, approximately three months after the inspection took place.
What Inspectors Found
During the December 2025 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the establishment:
- Code 08A: The establishment was found not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.
This violation indicates that inspectors identified environmental conditions within the restaurant that could attract or sustain pest activity. Such conditions may include gaps in walls or floors, improper food storage practices, accumulated debris, or inadequate waste management — any of which can create environments where pests can establish harborage.
While no critical violations were documented during this inspection, the single non-critical violation carried enough point weight to bring the restaurant's total score to 26, placing it near the top of the Grade B range.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain premises free of conditions that could attract or harbor pests. Pest-related violations are among the most commonly cited issues across New York City restaurants, as pest presence or conducive conditions can compromise food safety and sanitary standards.
The FDA Food Code similarly emphasizes that food establishments must implement integrated pest management practices and maintain physical facilities in a condition that prevents pest entry and harborage. Conditions conducive to pests — even when no live pest activity is directly observed — are documented as violations because they represent a risk factor for contamination.
A score of 26 is notable because it sits at the boundary between Grade B and Grade C territory. While still within the B range, it indicates that the establishment was assessed with enough violation points to approach the threshold where more significant regulatory consequences may apply.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available in the DOHMH public database for this establishment. This may indicate that the December 2025 inspection was the restaurant's first recorded inspection cycle, or that earlier records are not reflected in the current dataset.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation points accumulated during inspections:
- A (0–13 points): Minimal violations found; highest rating
- B (14–27 points): Moderate violations documented; restaurant may request a re-inspection
- C (28+ points): Significant violations found; restaurant may request a re-inspection
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C have the option to request an adjudication hearing or a re-inspection to potentially improve their score. Grade placards must be posted in a visible location near the entrance per DOHMH regulations.
Consumers can verify current inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade posted at the establishment. Inspection scores represent a snapshot of conditions observed on the date of the visit and may not reflect the restaurant's current status.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Bamboo Ya including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.