Bronx, NY — Good Taste Garden, a Chinese restaurant located at 863 East 149th Street in the Bronx, received a score of 36 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 10, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, a notable decline from its most recent Grade A rating in April 2024.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 13, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 10 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at the establishment:

The restaurant was cited under violation code 05A for a sewage disposal system that was documented as not provided, improper, inadequate, or unapproved. This violation relates to the fundamental infrastructure required for safe food service operations. A functioning sewage disposal system is essential for maintaining sanitary conditions, as failures in waste removal can lead to contamination of food preparation areas, standing water, and potential exposure to harmful pathogens.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle. The action taken by DOHMH was to cite the violations found during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Sewage disposal violations are classified as critical under the NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments across the five boroughs. Critical violations are those that, according to DOHMH guidelines, are most likely to contribute to foodborne illness or represent conditions that pose an immediate risk to public health.

Under the FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, adequate sewage disposal is considered a foundational requirement for food establishments. Section 5-402 of the FDA Food Code specifies that sewage must be disposed of through an approved sewage disposal system that is constructed, maintained, and operated according to applicable law. A failure in this system can compromise the entire sanitary environment of a food service operation.

The score of 36 points reflects the severity assigned to the violation identified during the inspection. In New York City's scoring system, each violation carries a specific point value, with critical violations generally carrying higher point totals than non-critical ones.

Inspection History

A review of Good Taste Garden's inspection record shows fluctuating scores over the past several years:

  • April 29, 2024: Score of 7, Grade A
  • May 23, 2023: Score of 30, no grade listed in available data
  • April 5, 2022: Score of 13, Grade A

The restaurant had demonstrated compliance with health standards in its two most recent graded inspections, earning Grade A scores in both 2024 and 2022. The 2023 inspection, which resulted in a score of 30, indicated a previous period of elevated violations, though the restaurant recovered to a strong Grade A performance by the following year.

The current score of 36 represents the highest point total recorded in the restaurant's available inspection history and marks a significant departure from the Grade A result achieved less than two years ago.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:

  • 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 restaurant posts the grade from whichever inspection resulted in a better score. Establishments also have the option to contest their grade through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

A Grade C designation indicates that the establishment accumulated 28 or more violation points, reflecting conditions that DOHMH considers to require significant corrective action.

Public Resources

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The database includes violation details, scores, and grading outcomes for all inspected establishments.

Good Taste Garden's complete inspection record, including any future re-inspection results, is available through the NYC Open Data portal and the DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Good Taste Garden including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.