Manhattan, NY — Havana Tacos, a Tex-Mex restaurant at 210 Nagle Avenue in the Inwood neighborhood, received a score of 33 during a health inspection conducted on February 13, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, indicating 28 or more violation points. Inspectors documented three critical and three non-critical violations during the visit.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 16, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most significant violation cited was the absence of a Food Protection Certificate (FPC) held by a manager or supervisor of food operations. NYC Health Code requires that at least one certified food protection supervisor be present during all hours of food preparation and service. This certification ensures that someone on-site has demonstrated knowledge of safe food handling, temperature control, and contamination prevention.
Inspectors also noted that the restaurant lacked properly scaled and calibrated thermometers or thermocouples in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas. Without accessible thermometers, staff cannot accurately verify that time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods are being cooked, cooled, reheated, and held at required temperatures. The FDA Food Code establishes specific temperature thresholds — 41°F or below for cold holding and 140°F or above for hot holding — that are critical to preventing bacterial growth.
The third critical violation involved food, supplies, or equipment not being protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Inspectors also cited that condiments were not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
Three non-critical violations were additionally recorded. A required hand-washing sign was not posted near or above the hand-washing sink. The restaurant was missing required posted notices including the "Choking first aid" poster and "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, along with resuscitation equipment signage. Inspectors also found that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were not kept clean or properly maintained to allow accessibility for cleaning.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in New York City. The requirement for a certified food protection manager is a foundational element of this code, designed to ensure that at least one person in every food operation has formal training in identifying and preventing foodborne illness risks.
The absence of accessible thermometers is a particularly notable finding. Temperature monitoring is one of the primary tools used to prevent the growth of pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria in TCS foods. The FDA Food Code identifies temperature abuse as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings.
Food contamination prevention — the third critical violation — addresses the physical protection of food from environmental contaminants, cross-contact with allergens, and exposure to unclean surfaces or conditions during all stages of handling.
Inspection History
Havana Tacos has the following prior inspection record on file with DOHMH:
- December 6, 2023: Score 22
- December 9, 2021: Score 12 (Grade A)
The current score of 33 represents a notable increase from both prior inspections. The restaurant had previously achieved a Grade A score in 2021 and remained below the Grade C threshold in 2023.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
The DOHMH assigns letter grades based on total violation points assessed during inspections:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 33 falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, and may request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the outcome of this process.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. All inspection results cited in this article are based on public record data maintained by the City of New York.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Havana Tacos including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.