Queens, NY — Chef's Mahal, a Bangladeshi restaurant located at 37-19 73rd Street in Jackson Heights, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on June 8, 2026. The establishment received a score of 90, well into the C range under NYC's restaurant grading system. Three critical violations were cited during the inspection. The closure data was released by DOHMH on June 10, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented three critical violations during the June 8 visit, each carrying potential food safety implications under NYC Health Code Article 81.

The first violation, coded 06A, pertained to personal cleanliness standards. Inspectors noted that food handlers were not meeting hygiene requirements, which may include issues such as soiled outer garments, the absence of effective hair restraints where required, jewelry worn on hands or arms, or fingernails that were not kept clean and trimmed. These standards exist to prevent the transfer of contaminants from food workers to the food being prepared or served.

The second violation, coded 02G, involved the temperature control of potentially hazardous foods. Inspectors found that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were being held above 41°F, the maximum allowable temperature under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. Proper cold holding is one of the most foundational principles of food safety, as bacteria that cause foodborne illness multiply rapidly when perishable foods are kept outside safe temperature ranges.

The third violation, coded 04A, identified that no manager or supervisor on the premises held a valid Food Protection Certificate. Under NYC Health Code Article 81.05, at least one supervisor or manager at a food service establishment is required to hold this certification, which demonstrates training in food safety principles. The absence of a certified individual on staff is considered a critical gap in food safety oversight.

All three violations were classified as critical, meaning inspectors determined they represented a direct or significant threat to public health. Violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection, as noted in the DOHMH action record.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program is administered by DOHMH under the authority of NYC Health Code Article 81. The program uses a point-based scoring system in which points are assigned for each violation identified during an unannounced inspection. Lower scores reflect better compliance; higher scores indicate more or more serious violations.

The FDA Food Code, which informs the NYC standards, identifies improper temperature control of TCS foods as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks. Cold TCS foods held above 41°F for extended periods can allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus to reach unsafe levels.

Personal cleanliness requirements under 06A are similarly grounded in evidence linking poor hygiene practices among food handlers to contamination events. The Food Protection Certificate requirement under 04A is designed to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role at each establishment has demonstrated a working knowledge of safe food handling procedures.

When inspectors find violations that pose an immediate risk to public health, DOHMH has the authority to order an establishment closed until those conditions are corrected. A reinspection must occur before the restaurant is permitted to reopen.

Inspection History

Chef's Mahal has been subject to prior DOHMH inspections. The available record shows:

  • August 5, 2024: Score 39
  • September 23, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)

The September 2024 inspection represented a significant improvement over the August 2024 visit, resulting in a Grade A. The June 2026 closure marks a notable departure from that more recent performance. Inspection scores can vary between visits based on staffing, operational conditions, and the specific criteria assessed on a given day.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades based on the score received during an inspection. The grading scale is as follows:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or more

A score of 90 places Chef's Mahal well within the C range. Establishments that receive a grade of B or C during an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is posted publicly. During the period between a closure and a re-inspection, no grade card is typically displayed.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Chef's Mahal including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.