Queens, NY — Hei Tiki, a fusion restaurant located at 34-20 Broadway in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, was ordered closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted May 27, 2026. The closure marks the second time the establishment has been closed within a week, following an earlier closure May 23, 2026.

Inspection data was released by DOHMH on May 29, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the May 27 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one critical violation at the establishment. The violation, recorded under Code 04L, documented evidence of mice or live mice in the restaurant's food or non-food areas.

The presence of rodents in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81, as it poses a direct risk of food contamination and potential transmission of foodborne illness. No non-critical violations were identified during this inspection.

Despite the critical violation, the establishment received a score of 13, which falls within the range for a Grade A under the city's letter grading system. The DOHMH nonetheless issued a re-closure order, citing the active rodent activity as grounds for the action.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to maintain their premises free from pests, including rodents. Evidence of mice — whether through droppings, gnaw marks, live animals, or other indicators — constitutes a critical violation because rodents can contaminate food contact surfaces, packaging, and food supplies with pathogens including Salmonella and Leptospira.

A critical violation is defined by DOHMH as a condition that poses an immediate threat to public health. Establishments that receive certain critical violations may be closed on the spot, regardless of their overall numeric score, if inspectors determine the condition warrants immediate action.

The DOHMH's closure authority under Article 81 allows the agency to order a restaurant closed and require corrective action before the establishment can reopen. A re-inspection is required to verify that violations have been addressed before the establishment is permitted to resume service.

The fact that this closure was classified as a "re-closure" indicates that the establishment had previously been ordered closed and had either reopened or was in the process of addressing prior violations when the second inspection occurred.

Inspection History

Hei Tiki's recent inspection record reflects a pattern of compliance challenges:

  • May 27, 2026: Score 13, re-closed by DOHMH (evidence of mice)
  • May 23, 2026: Score 65, closed by DOHMH
  • November 10, 2025: Score 26
  • May 20, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)

The May 23 inspection resulted in a score of 65, which would place the establishment well into Grade C territory and suggests a significantly broader range of violations at that time. The subsequent re-inspection four days later produced a score of 13, indicating that many of the earlier violations had been addressed. However, the continued presence of rodent evidence was sufficient for inspectors to issue a second closure order.

The November 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 26, which falls within the Grade B range. The May 2024 inspection produced a score of 13, consistent with Grade A performance.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires most restaurants to post their DOHMH letter grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the score received during an unannounced inspection:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or more

Each violation carries a point value based on its severity and public health risk. Critical violations, such as evidence of rodents, generally carry higher point values than non-critical violations. A restaurant that receives a score in the Grade B or C range, or that is closed by inspectors, may request an administrative hearing or a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted.

When an establishment is closed, it is not permitted to reopen until it has passed a follow-up inspection confirming that the conditions that led to the closure have been corrected.

More About This Restaurant

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