Brooklyn, NY — Chilo's, a Tex-Mex restaurant located at 323 Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 22, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 63, placing the establishment in C-grade territory under the city's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 24, 2026.

The closure followed the identification of one critical violation. Inspectors noted that the violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site, which is standard procedure for DOHMH-ordered closures before a reinspection can be scheduled.

What Inspectors Found

The single violation cited during the April 22 inspection was classified as critical under NYC Health Code Article 81:

Inspectors documented a violation under Code 02G, finding that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F. This category of violation also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods stored above their required temperatures outside of active preparation.

Proper cold holding temperatures are a foundational requirement in food safety operations. When TCS foods — items that require temperature control to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria — are stored above safe thresholds, conditions can allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli to multiply to levels capable of causing illness.

The violation was the sole citation recorded during the inspection, but under DOHMH protocol, certain critical violations trigger a closure order regardless of the overall violation count. The establishment received a score of 63, which falls well above the 28-point threshold that defines a C grade under the city's system.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the requirements for food handling, storage, temperature control, sanitation, and facility maintenance. The program is administered by DOHMH's Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation.

Cold holding requirements are also codified in the FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for food safety regulations across the United States. The FDA Food Code specifies that TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below to inhibit the growth of pathogens that can cause foodborne illness.

Temperature violations are categorized as critical because of the direct link between improper food temperatures and foodborne illness risk. Inspectors use calibrated thermometers to measure food and equipment temperatures during unannounced inspections. When a critical cold holding violation is identified, inspectors require corrective action before the establishment can resume operations.

DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all permitted food service establishments in New York City at least once per year. Restaurants that score above 13 points on an initial inspection are subject to a reinspection cycle that determines the final letter grade posted at the establishment.

Inspection History

According to DOHMH public records, no prior inspection history is available for Chilo's at 323 Franklin Avenue. This inspection on April 22, 2026, represents the first recorded entry in the city's publicly accessible inspection database for this location.

The absence of prior inspection records may indicate that the establishment is relatively new to its current location, or that prior inspection data predates the current reporting window maintained in the DOHMH database.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a letter grading system based on inspection scores, which are calculated by adding point values assigned to each violation cited during an inspection. Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. The grading scale is as follows:

  • A grade: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • B grade: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C grade: Score of 28 points or above

A score of 63 falls well within the C-grade range. Following a closure, DOHMH conducts a reinspection to verify that violations have been corrected and that the establishment meets the standards required to reopen. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the NYC Open Data portal. Records include inspection dates, scores, violation codes, and grade history.

More About This Restaurant

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