Queens, NY — El Comal Restaurant, a Latin American eatery located at 148-60 Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, received a score of 30 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on February 6, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 10, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 6 inspection, inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the establishment.
The violation, cited under code 10F, noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit.
While no critical violations — those posing an immediate risk to public health, such as improper food temperatures or evidence of pests — were recorded during this inspection, the cumulative point total of 30 was sufficient to place the restaurant in Grade C range.
It is worth noting that under the NYC inspection scoring system, points are assigned based on the nature and severity of each condition observed. A single violation can carry a range of point values depending on the specific circumstances documented by the inspector at the time of the visit.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation requirements for all food service establishments. The program is designed to ensure that restaurants maintain conditions that protect public health.
Equipment cleanliness and proper construction are addressed in both the NYC Health Code and the FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local jurisdictions. Non-food contact surfaces — such as shelving, floors beneath equipment, and exterior surfaces of cooking units — must be maintained in a clean condition and constructed of materials that can be easily cleaned. Equipment must also be installed in a manner that allows access for cleaning on all sides and underneath.
These requirements exist because improperly maintained equipment can harbor bacteria, attract pests, and create conditions that indirectly affect food safety, even when the surfaces themselves do not come into direct contact with food.
Under the city's grading system, restaurants that receive a Grade C are required to post the grade card in a location visible to the public. Restaurants may request a hearing before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to contest their score, and they will be scheduled for a re-inspection.
Inspection History
El Comal Restaurant's prior inspection record at this location shows:
- April 18, 2025: Score 27 (Grade N)
The April 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 27, which fell just below the 28-point threshold for a Grade C. A Grade N designation indicates that the inspection was an initial inspection and that the grade was not yet posted, with the restaurant proceeding to an adjudication or re-inspection cycle.
The progression from a score of 27 in April 2025 to a score of 30 in February 2026 represents a slight increase in documented violations over the two inspection periods.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. The grading system, introduced in 2010, is intended to provide consumers with a quick, visible indicator of a restaurant's most recent inspection performance.
Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C are automatically scheduled for a re-inspection, typically within 30 days. If the restaurant scores within Grade A range on the re-inspection, the new grade is posted. Restaurants also have the right to contest their scores through the city's administrative hearing process.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH website or the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records, including specific violations cited, are public record and are updated as new data becomes available.
For the most current information about El Comal Restaurant's inspection status, residents can visit the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection lookup tool at the official NYC.gov website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Comal Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.