Queens, NY — El Basurero, a Latin American restaurant located at 32-17 Steinway Street in Astoria, received a Grade B score of 22 during a health inspection conducted on February 26, 2026. The score represents a notable decline for the establishment, which had earned Grade A ratings in its three most recent prior inspections.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 4, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation related to dishwashing and ware washing practices. Specifically, the restaurant was found to have deficiencies in the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment (violation code 10G).
No critical violations were documented during the inspection. However, the single non-critical violation contributed to a total score of 22 points — placing the restaurant in the upper range of Grade B territory. Under New York City's scoring system, a Grade B encompasses scores from 14 to 27, meaning El Basurero's score sits just five points below the Grade C threshold of 28.
Food Safety Context
Proper cleaning and sanitizing of tableware and food-contact surfaces is a fundamental requirement under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. These regulations mandate that all utensils, dishes, and equipment that come into contact with food must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized using approved methods to prevent the transmission of foodborne illness.
Ware washing deficiencies can involve issues such as insufficient water temperature, improper sanitizer concentration, or failure to follow the required wash-rinse-sanitize sequence. While classified as a non-critical violation, these deficiencies can contribute to conditions that affect food safety over time if not corrected.
The fact that a single non-critical violation resulted in a score of 22 points indicates that inspectors assessed the deficiency as significant in scope or severity within the DOHMH's weighted scoring framework.
Inspection History
El Basurero's prior inspection record shows a consistent pattern of Grade A scores before this most recent result:
- Sept. 20, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
- April 11, 2023: Score 12, Grade A
- Feb. 24, 2022: Score 5, Grade A
- Nov. 23, 2021: Score not recorded
The jump from a score of 12 to 22 represents the restaurant's first Grade B rating in its available inspection history. Prior inspections consistently placed the establishment well within the Grade A range.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer violations:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the better outcome between the initial inspection and any subsequent re-inspection.
Residents can verify El Basurero's current grade and full inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online through the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection results referenced in this article are based on publicly available DOHMH data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Basurero including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.