Manhattan, NY — Chinelos Ii Deli-Grocery Restaurant, a Mexican eatery located at 530 West 136th Street, received a score of 30 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 17, 2026, placing it in the Grade C category. Inspectors documented a critical food safety violation involving improper hot food holding temperatures.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 19, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified one critical violation at the establishment:
Inspectors found that hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were not being held at or above 140 °F, as required under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. This violation is classified under DOHMH code 02B.
TCS foods — which include cooked meats, rice, beans, and other prepared items commonly found in Mexican cuisine — must be maintained at 140 °F or higher to prevent the rapid growth of harmful bacteria. When these foods fall below the required temperature threshold and remain in what food safety professionals refer to as the "danger zone" (between 41 °F and 140 °F), bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply to levels that pose a risk of foodborne illness.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection. The action taken by DOHMH was to cite the establishment for the violations found.
Food Safety Context
The FDA Food Code establishes 140 °F as the minimum safe holding temperature for hot TCS foods. NYC Health Code Article 81 incorporates these federal food safety standards into the city's restaurant inspection framework. Establishments are expected to use calibrated thermometers and proper holding equipment to maintain food at safe temperatures throughout service.
Temperature control violations are among the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City restaurant inspections. They are considered critical because of the direct relationship between improper food temperatures and the risk of bacterial growth that can cause foodborne illness.
Restaurants cited for violations during a DOHMH inspection have the opportunity to correct the issues and may request a re-inspection to improve their score before a grade is officially posted.
Inspection History
Chinelos Ii Deli-Grocery Restaurant has undergone multiple DOHMH inspections over the past several years. The establishment's inspection record shows a pattern of scores that have frequently exceeded the Grade A threshold:
- Feb 17, 2026: Score 30 (Grade C)
- Nov 25, 2025: Score 35 (Grade Z)
- Jul 2, 2025: Score 30
- Apr 29, 2025: Score 33 (Grade C)
- Mar 20, 2025: Score 31
- Jun 28, 2024: Score 3 (Grade P)
- Jun 25, 2024: Score 60 (Closed by DOHMH)
- Feb 8, 2023: Score 23 (Grade B)
- Aug 16, 2022: Score 25
The record indicates that the restaurant was closed by DOHMH in June 2024 after receiving a score of 60. It subsequently passed a re-inspection three days later with a score of 3. However, since that low score in mid-2024, the establishment has not scored below 30 in any of its five subsequent inspections. The current Grade C score of 30 is consistent with this recent trend.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection. Each violation carries a specific point value, with critical violations receiving higher points than non-critical ones. The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A Grade C indicates that an establishment has accumulated 28 or more violation points, reflecting significant food safety concerns that require attention. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may choose to have their score reviewed at a hearing before the NYC Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and may request a re-inspection.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history and current grade through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance, as required by city law. Additional information about NYC restaurant inspections is available at the DOHMH website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Chinelos Ii Deli-Grocery Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.