Queens, NY — Himalayan Restaurant & Bar, an Asian fusion restaurant located at 74-14 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights, received a score of 44 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, which applies to restaurants scoring 28 points or higher. Inspectors documented two critical violations and one non-critical violation during the visit.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified two critical violations at the establishment.

Inspectors cited the restaurant for food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred (violation code 06D). Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, prep tables, utensils, and any equipment that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. When these surfaces are not properly sanitized between uses, they can harbor bacteria and facilitate cross-contamination between different food items.

The second critical violation noted that no Food Protection Certificate (FPC) was held by a manager or supervisor of food operations (violation code 04A). New York City requires that every food service establishment have at least one supervisor with a valid Food Protection Certificate present during all hours of operation. This certification ensures that a trained individual is overseeing food safety practices including proper temperature control, hygiene procedures, and contamination prevention.

Inspectors also recorded one non-critical violation related to plumbing and drainage issues (violation code 10B). The citation noted concerns with anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, improper floor drainage, or improper disposal of condensation or liquid waste.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework governing food service establishments in the city. The requirement for food contact surface sanitation is grounded in both local code and the FDA Food Code, which specifies that food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized between uses, particularly when switching between different food types such as raw proteins and ready-to-eat items.

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is a cornerstone of New York City's food safety oversight system. The certificate is earned through a DOHMH-approved course covering foodborne illness prevention, temperature control, personal hygiene, pest management, and allergen awareness. Its absence during an inspection indicates that no certified supervisor was documented as overseeing food handling operations at the time of the visit.

Plumbing and drainage violations, while classified as non-critical, relate to infrastructure that prevents contamination of the water supply and ensures sanitary waste disposal within the food preparation environment.

Inspection History

The March 2026 score represents a notable change from the restaurant's recent inspection record:

  • 2024-09-24: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2024-08-29: Score 0

The establishment had previously earned a Grade A score of 12 in September 2024, and received a perfect score of 0 during its August 2024 inspection. The current score of 44 is a significant increase from those prior results.

Under DOHMH procedures, a restaurant receiving a Grade C score may request an adjudication hearing before the city's administrative tribunal. The restaurant may also receive a re-inspection, during which it has the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its nature and severity, with critical violations generally carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.

Residents can look up any restaurant's inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available on the NYC Open Data portal. The database provides detailed records of all inspections, violations cited, and grades assigned for every permitted food service establishment in the city.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Himalayan Restaurant & Bar including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.