Brooklyn, NY — Buddy's Burrito & Taco Bar, a Tex-Mex restaurant at 260 Court Street in Brooklyn, received a score of 30 during a health inspection conducted on February 17, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection identified two non-critical violations related to pest conditions and equipment maintenance, marking a significant decline from the restaurant's previously consistent Grade A record.
Buddy's Burrito & Taco Bar restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">What Inspectors Found
During the February 2026 inspection, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspectors cited Buddy's Burrito & Taco Bar for two non-critical violations:
Inspectors documented that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit (violation code 10F). This type of violation indicates that surfaces and equipment in the establishment did not meet the standards required for proper sanitation and maintenance.
Additionally, inspectors noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests (violation code 08A). This violation indicates that conditions were identified within the premises that could attract or shelter pests, even if active pest activity was not necessarily observed at the time of inspection.
The inspection resulted in an action status of "violations were cited in the following area(s)," meaning the restaurant was not ordered closed but was documented for the conditions found.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must maintain. Equipment and facility maintenance requirements are designed to prevent the accumulation of food debris and moisture that can attract pests and compromise food safety.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, specifies that equipment and surfaces must be designed and maintained to be easily cleanable. Conditions conducive to pests are addressed under integrated pest management principles, which require establishments to eliminate harborage points — areas where pests can nest, hide, or breed.
While neither violation cited in this inspection was classified as critical, meaning they were not identified as factors likely to directly contribute to foodborne illness, they represent conditions that can deteriorate over time if not addressed. Non-critical violations still carry point values that contribute to a restaurant's overall inspection score.
Inspection History
Buddy's Burrito & Taco Bar had maintained a consistent record of favorable inspection results prior to this February 2026 inspection:
- Sep 4, 2024: Score 9 (Grade A)
- May 2, 2024: Score 19
- Mar 8, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
- Feb 28, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
The restaurant earned Grade A scores in three of its four previous inspections on record, with scores ranging from 9 to 13 during those graded cycles. The May 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 19, which would fall within the Grade B range, though a final grade assignment was not recorded for that cycle. The current score of 30 represents the highest point total in the restaurant's available inspection history.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A Grade C score indicates that the total points from all cited violations during a single inspection reached 28 or above. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection or appear before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest the findings.
The inspection data referenced in this article was collected on February 17, 2026, and released by DOHMH on February 19, 2026. Inspection results reflect conditions observed at a specific point in time and may not represent current conditions at the establishment.
Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the entrance of the establishment. Additional food safety information is available through the NYC Department of Health at nyc.gov/health.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Buddy's Burrito & Taco Bar including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.