Brooklyn, NY — Crown Fried Chicken, located at 2962 Fulton Street in East New York, received a score of 48 during a health inspection conducted on February 18, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented two critical violations, including hot food held at unsafe temperatures and inadequate personal cleanliness practices.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 26, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 18 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified three violations at the Fulton Street chicken restaurant, two of which were classified as critical.
The most significant finding involved hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items not being held at or above 140°F, as required. This violation (Code 02B) is considered critical because bacteria can multiply rapidly when cooked foods fall into the temperature danger zone between 41°F and 140°F, potentially leading to foodborne illness.
Inspectors also cited the restaurant for inadequate personal cleanliness (Code 06A). This critical violation encompasses multiple observed conditions, which may include soiled outer garments with possible contaminants, lack of effective hair restraints where required, jewelry worn on hands or arms, and fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
Additionally, one non-critical violation was recorded for failure to conspicuously post healthy eating information (Code 20-08), a requirement for food service establishments in New York City.
The combined score of 48 points falls well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments must follow. Temperature control for hot foods is among the most fundamental food safety requirements. The FDA Food Code specifies that hot TCS foods must be maintained at 140°F or above to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens.
Personal hygiene practices among food handlers are also a critical component of food safety regulation. Hair restraints, clean garments, and proper hand hygiene help prevent physical and biological contamination of food during preparation and service.
The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of approximately 27,000 restaurants across New York City. Each violation observed during an inspection is assigned a point value, with critical violations carrying higher point values. The total score determines the restaurant's letter grade.
Inspection History
Crown Fried Chicken's recent inspection record shows a pattern of compliance issues at this location:
- December 1, 2025: Score of 53, restaurant closed by DOHMH
- December 5, 2025: Score of 0 (Grade Z), restaurant reopened
The December 2025 closure and subsequent reopening indicate that the restaurant had previously failed to meet minimum health standards, was closed by the department, and then passed a reopening inspection just four days later. The current score of 48 recorded in February 2026 represents a return to elevated violation levels, though the restaurant was not closed during this most recent inspection cycle.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 48 places Crown Fried Chicken significantly above the Grade C threshold. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection to attempt to improve their score. Grade cards must be posted where they are visible to the public.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly searchable database. Inspection records, including violation details and scores, are public information and are updated regularly as new inspections are completed.
For more information about NYC restaurant inspections and food safety, residents can visit the DOHMH website or call 311.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Crown Fried Chicken including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.