Queens, NY — Golden Owls Sushi & Noodles, located at 85-04 Grand Avenue in Elmhurst, received a score of 32 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026, placing the restaurant in Grade C territory. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 23, 2026.
The restaurant was cited for one critical violation. No non-critical violations were recorded during the visit.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation under Code 06D: food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities during which contamination may have occurred.
Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, prep tables, slicing equipment, utensils, and any other surface that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, these surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized at defined intervals — particularly after handling raw proteins, between uses with different food types, and after any interruption that could introduce contamination.
The citation indicates that at the time of inspection, this standard was not being met. In a sushi and noodle operation, where raw fish handling is routine and cross-contamination risks are elevated, surface sanitation practices are a foundational food safety requirement.
The single critical violation, while the only one recorded, was weighted heavily enough to produce a score of 32 — well into Grade C range, which begins at 28 points.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service sanitation requirements for all restaurants operating in the five boroughs. The FDA Food Code, which New York City's standards align with, classifies improper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces as a critical item because such failures can directly contribute to foodborne illness.
Critical violations are defined by DOHMH as those most likely to cause foodborne illness if not corrected. They carry higher point values in the scoring system than non-critical violations, which address general maintenance and operational conditions.
A score of 32 carries meaningful implications. Under NYC's grading system, restaurants scoring 28 or higher during an initial inspection are not immediately issued a letter grade — they are given the opportunity to request a re-inspection (a "Grade Pending" period) or accept the Grade C. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects whichever outcome results from that process.
Inspection History
The March 2026 result represents a significant departure from the restaurant's recent performance record. Prior inspections at this location include:
- December 23, 2024: Score 13, Grade A
- October 15, 2024: Score 36
- April 5, 2023: Score 10, Grade A
- December 5, 2022: Score 10
The December 2024 Grade A inspection occurred just under three months before the March 2026 visit. The restaurant had also received a score of 36 in October 2024 — another Grade C-range result — before recovering to a Grade A by the end of that year. The current inspection continues a pattern of variable scores at this location.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grade system is based on the total point score assigned during a DOHMH inspection. Each violation carries a point value, and those points are summed to produce the final score. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
- B: Score of 14–27 points
- C: Score of 28 or more points
Restaurants that score in the B or C range on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a letter grade is posted publicly. During that window, a "Grade Pending" card is displayed. Final grades are posted at the restaurant entrance and are publicly accessible through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database.
Inspection records for Golden Owls Sushi & Noodles and all New York City restaurants are available through the DOHMH's online search tool at nyc.gov/health. Residents can use the tool to review full violation histories, scores, and grade status for any permitted food service establishment in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Golden Owls Sushi & Noodles including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.