Manhattan, NY — Harlem Halal Food Court, located at 66 West 116th Street in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted May 19, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 97, well into Grade C territory, after identifying a critical pest violation that required immediate action. Inspection data was made available to the public on May 21, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited one critical violation during the May 19 visit, which was sufficient to trigger closure of the establishment.

The violation, classified under Code 04N, documented the presence of filth flies — including house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies — in the restaurant's food and/or non-food areas. These insects are categorized as filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies under NYC Health Code standards.

Pest presence of this nature is classified as a critical violation because flies are known vectors for pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Flies that have contact with food preparation surfaces, open food, or food storage areas create direct risk of contamination.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain effective pest control and prevent the entry and harborage of insects and rodents on the premises. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's regulatory standards, similarly designates pest presence in food areas as a critical item — one that, if left unaddressed, directly contributes to foodborne illness risk.

When inspectors identify violations that pose an immediate public health risk, DOHMH is authorized to order a restaurant closed until conditions are corrected. In this case, inspectors noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site, which is a standard component of the closure process. However, the establishment remains closed until DOHMH conducts a re-inspection and determines conditions meet minimum health standards for reopening.

A score of 97 places Harlem Halal Food Court firmly in Grade C range. Under the NYC letter grading system, a score this high reflects a significant accumulation of violation points recorded during a single inspection cycle.

Inspection History

The May 19, 2026 closure follows a mixed recent inspection record for the establishment:

  • May 19, 2026: Score 97 (Grade C range), closed by DOHMH — one critical violation (filth flies)
  • March 18, 2025: Score 26 (Grade B)
  • January 22, 2025: Score 32 (Grade C range)

The January 2025 inspection recorded a score of 32, indicating violations were present at that time as well. The March 2025 re-inspection brought the score down to 26, which qualified for a Grade B posting. The jump to a score of 97 in the most recent inspection represents a significant deterioration from that March result.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent inspection grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the total point value of violations documented during an inspection:

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

Each violation is assigned a point value based on its severity and public health risk. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute directly to foodborne illness — carry higher point values than non-critical violations. A single critical violation can contribute substantially to a final score depending on its classification.

When a restaurant is closed by DOHMH, it does not receive a grade posting until it passes a re-inspection. If it scores in Grade B or C range at that re-inspection, it may request an administrative hearing before a grade is officially posted.

Restaurants that are closed are not eligible to reopen until a DOHMH inspector returns and verifies that conditions have been corrected to an acceptable standard.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Harlem Halal Food Court including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.