Queens, NY — Gopchang Story, a Korean restaurant located at 160-18 Northern Boulevard in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted March 30, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 29, placing the establishment in the Grade C range. The data was released by DOHMH on April 1, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one violation during the March 30 inspection, classified as non-critical under the city's grading system.

The violation cited was Code 08A: the establishment was found not to be free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This category covers structural gaps, improper storage practices, debris accumulation, and other physical conditions that can attract or shelter pests — even in the absence of observed pest activity at the time of inspection.

No critical violations were recorded during this visit. Critical violations under the NYC system typically involve issues with direct food safety risk, such as improper temperature control, contaminated food sources, or inadequate handwashing access. The absence of critical violations in this inspection means the Grade C score was driven entirely by the severity weighting applied to the single non-critical finding.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments operating in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. Inspectors assign point values to each violation based on type and severity. The cumulative score determines the letter grade posted at the establishment.

The FDA Food Code, which New York City's regulations draw from, identifies pest harborage conditions as a significant concern in food service environments because pests can contaminate food contact surfaces, packaging, and stored ingredients. Code 08A violations address the structural and operational conditions that enable pest presence, regardless of whether pests are directly observed.

Restaurants receiving a Grade C are required to post that grade prominently. They may request a re-inspection, at which point a new score is calculated. If the re-inspection score qualifies for a higher grade, the establishment may post that grade instead.

Inspection History

Gopchang Story's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores following a strong performance in early 2024:

  • February 9, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 18, 2025: Score 40 (grade pending or not yet finalized in available data)
  • November 14, 2025: Score 33 (Grade Z — assigned when a score falls in the Grade C range during an initial inspection cycle)
  • March 30, 2026: Score 29 (Grade C)

The restaurant's Grade A in February 2024 indicates inspectors found minimal issues at that time. Scores increased substantially by mid-2025 and have remained in the Grade C range through the most recent inspection. A Grade Z is typically assigned during the initial inspection of a cycle when the score would otherwise result in a Grade C, giving the establishment an opportunity to correct violations before a grade is officially posted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system provides a straightforward summary of inspection results for consumers:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points — meets city food safety standards
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations identified
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points — multiple or weighted violations documented

Grades must be displayed in a location visible from the street or entrance. Inspection reports, including violation details and scores, are available to the public through the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool at NYC.gov. Consumers can review full inspection histories for any licensed food service establishment in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Gopchang Story including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.