New York, NY — Six Queens restaurants received Grade B scores from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on April 1, 2026, with scores ranging from 17 to 20 points. The inspections span multiple neighborhoods and cuisines, with violations concentrated in sanitation equipment, pest management, and food temperature control.
The Inspections
In Flushing, Hot Space at 39-07 Prince Street received a score of 20, the highest among the day's Grade B results. Inspectors cited non-food contact surfaces and equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed — a violation under NYC Health Code Article 81 relating to facility maintenance standards.
Also in Queens, Patoug Restaurant & Catering, the Iranian restaurant at 220-06 Horace Harding Expressway, received a score of 19 with two separate violations on record. Inspectors found conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests, and also documented deficiencies in dishwashing and ware washing procedures — specifically in the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, dishes, utensils, and equipment.
The Latin American spot Rosas Bakery & Restaurant, located at 936 Seneca Avenue, also scored 19 and was cited for a critical violation: juice packaged on premises with no or incomplete label and no required warning statement. Labeling requirements for freshly packaged juice are addressed under both NYC Health Code and FDA Food Code guidelines, which require specific health advisory language on products not treated to achieve a 5-log reduction of pathogens.
In Elmhurst, Gangjong Thunpa Phunshi at 81-20 Broadway received a score of 18. Inspectors noted the restaurant had no active contract with a pest management professional and was not keeping records of extermination activities on premises — a recordkeeping and pest control compliance issue under Health Code Article 81.
On Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Margherita Pizza at 163-04 Jamaica Avenue scored 17. Like Patoug, the pizzeria was cited for deficient dishwashing and ware washing practices involving the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware and equipment.
Also in Elmhurst, Jai Sang Ma, a Thai restaurant at 81-40 Broadway, received a score of 17 with three violations recorded, two of them critical. Inspectors found that hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food was not held at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and documented food contact surfaces not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after use. A third, non-critical violation of the same food contact surface category was also recorded.
Common Patterns
Several patterns emerge across the six inspections. Dishwashing and ware washing deficiencies appeared at two separate establishments — Patoug Restaurant & Catering and Margherita Pizza — pointing to a recurring challenge in equipment sanitation compliance across different cuisine types.
Pest management gaps were documented at two restaurants as well. Patoug was cited for harborage conditions conducive to pests, while Gangjong Thunpa Phunshi lacked a pest control contract and required activity records. Both violations fall within the same regulatory category under Health Code Article 81, which requires active pest prevention and documentation.
Geographically, two of the six restaurants are located on Broadway in Elmhurst — Gangjong Thunpa Phunshi and Jai Sang Ma — suggesting inspectors may have conducted rounds in that corridor on the same date. The remaining four restaurants are spread across Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Ridgewood, and Jamaica.
Cuisine diversity is notable: the six establishments span Chinese, Iranian, Latin American, Other, Pizza, and Thai — a cross-section of the borough's internationally varied food scene.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B does not indicate that a restaurant is unsafe to visit or that it poses an immediate public health hazard. Under the NYC grading system, a Grade B means violations were identified that require correction, but the restaurant was permitted to remain open. Establishments receiving a B or C score during an initial inspection are re-inspected, and the resulting grade reflects the outcome of a subsequent visit.
Diners can look up any restaurant's current grade, full inspection history, and violation details through the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection database at the city's official health portal. Grades are required to be posted visibly at the entrance of every restaurant in the five boroughs.
Of the six restaurants inspected on April 1, three received a grade of "Pending" — Patoug Restaurant & Catering, Rosas Bakery & Restaurant, and Margherita Pizza — indicating a re-inspection had been scheduled or was already completed but not yet adjudicated. The remaining three — Hot Space, Gangjong Thunpa Phunshi, and Jai Sang Ma — received a grade of "N," which typically indicates a new establishment or a recent change in ownership requiring an initial cycle of inspections.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a point-based system to grade restaurant inspections. Each violation carries a set number of points based on severity. At the end of an inspection, the total score determines the grade:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — meets city standards
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — violations identified, re-inspection required
- Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations, re-inspection required
Critical violations — those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk, such as improper food temperatures or contaminated food contact surfaces — carry higher point values than general violations. Two of Jai Sang Ma's three violations were classified as critical, which contributed to its score despite being the second-lowest on the day.
Inspections are unannounced and conducted by Environmental Health Inspectors trained under NYC Health Code Article 81 and relevant provisions of the FDA Food Code. Restaurants may request a hearing to contest violations they believe were cited in error.
Diners seeking current grade information can search by restaurant name or address through the NYC Health Department's restaurant inspection lookup tool.