Brooklyn, NY — Chens Garden, a Chinese restaurant at 11046 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, received a Grade B score of 22 following a health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026. The score represents a significant increase from the restaurant's prior Grade A rating and places it in the upper range of the Grade B category, just five points below the Grade C threshold of 28.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 17, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:
Cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were found held above 41°F. Under the violation code 02G, this includes smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, or reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods held above required temperatures, except during active necessary preparation.
No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection. The restaurant's entire score of 22 points was attributed to this single critical cold-holding violation, indicating inspectors assessed it as a significant departure from required food safety standards.
Food Safety Context
Proper cold holding temperatures are a foundational requirement of food safety. NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code require that TCS foods be maintained at 41°F or below to limit the growth of harmful bacteria. When cold foods are held above safe temperatures, pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli can multiply to levels that pose a risk of foodborne illness.
The FDA Food Code identifies improper holding temperatures as one of the leading contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks. The severity of the point assessment in this case — 22 points for a single violation — suggests inspectors found conditions that represented a substantial deviation from required temperature standards.
Inspection History
Chens Garden's prior inspection record had been consistently strong before this most recent visit:
- September 13, 2024: Score 13, Grade A
- December 29, 2022: Score 12, Grade A
- April 13, 2022: Score 23
The March 2026 score of 22 marks a return to the Grade B range the restaurant last reached in April 2022, when it also scored 23. Between those two inspections, the restaurant had improved its performance and maintained Grade A scores for over two years.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH grading system:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violations)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
A Grade B score of 22 falls in the upper portion of the B range. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, at which point the grade may be adjusted based on new findings.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations and scores, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database available at the NYC OpenData portal. Inspection results are also displayed on grade cards posted at restaurant entrances as required by city law.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Chens Garden including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.