Bronx, NY — Foo Hing Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant located at 522 East 138th Street in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on August 4, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 40, placing the establishment in Grade C range. The data was released by DOHMH on August 6, 2026.

Two critical violations were cited during the inspection. Per DOHMH policy, violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site before the closure order was finalized.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited two critical violations during the August 4 visit:

Hot food temperature failure (Code 02B): Hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were not maintained at or above 140°F as required. Holding hot food below this threshold creates conditions where harmful bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels, posing a direct risk to consumers.

Evidence of mice (Code 04L): Inspectors documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Rodent activity in a food service environment is considered a critical public health concern due to the potential for contamination of food, food contact surfaces, and preparation areas.

Both violations are classified as critical, meaning they represent conditions with the potential to directly contribute to foodborne illness or injury.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments operating in New York City are required to maintain hot TCS foods at or above 140°F at all times during holding and service. This standard aligns with the FDA Food Code, which establishes the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 140°F — as the range in which pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply rapidly.

Rodent presence in a food establishment violates multiple provisions of NYC Health Code Article 81, which mandates that food service operators take active measures to prevent pest entry, harborage, and activity. The FDA Food Code similarly requires facilities to be free of pests that could contaminate food or food contact surfaces.

When DOHMH inspectors identify violations that pose an immediate public health hazard — including active rodent activity — they are authorized to order a closure of the establishment until corrective measures are verified. Foo Hing Kitchen was closed under this authority following the August 4 inspection.

Inspection History

The August 4, 2026 inspection is part of a longer record for this location. Prior inspections on file with DOHMH include:

  • January 14, 2026: Score not publicly recorded at time of data release
  • September 10, 2025: Score 19 (Grade B)
  • June 5, 2025: Score 23
  • October 12, 2023: Score 8 (Grade A)
  • August 28, 2023: Score 48
  • January 30, 2023: Score 16 (Grade B)

The establishment received a Grade A in October 2023 with a score of 8, but scored 48 just two months earlier in August 2023 — indicating variability in compliance conditions during that period. The restaurant earned a Grade B in September 2025 with a score of 19, before the score rose sharply to 40 at the most recent inspection.

The current score of 40 represents the highest recorded score in the restaurant's available inspection history and triggered the closure action by DOHMH.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system is based on points assigned for each violation found during a DOHMH inspection. Lower scores indicate better compliance. The grading scale is as follows:

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

A score of 40 places Foo Hing Kitchen firmly within Grade C range. Establishments that receive a Grade B or C at an initial inspection are re-inspected, at which point the posted grade is determined. If a restaurant is closed, it may not reopen until DOHMH inspectors verify that the conditions that led to the closure have been corrected.

Consumers can look up current inspection records, grades, and closure status for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records are updated regularly as new data is released.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Foo Hing Kitchen including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.