Queens, NY — Homemade Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant at 40-10 Junction Boulevard in Jackson Heights, received a Grade C following a health inspection conducted April 7, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 30 points, placing the restaurant in the C range under New York City's restaurant grading system. The data was released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection documented five violations in total — two critical and three non-critical.

Both critical violations involved the same food safety concern: failure to cool temperature-controlled-for-safety (TCS) food using an approved method after cooking or removal from hot holding. Under applicable standards, cooked food must be reduced from 140°F to 70°F within two hours, and from 70°F to 41°F within four additional hours. Inspectors cited this failure twice, indicating the issue was identified across more than one food item or preparation area.

Improper cooling is among the most significant food safety risks in commercial kitchens. When cooked foods remain in the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 140°F — for extended periods, bacterial growth can accelerate to levels capable of causing foodborne illness.

The non-critical violations included two citations under Code 20-06 for failure to post the current letter grade or Grade Pending card in a location visible to the public. A third non-critical violation, Code 10F, cited a non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, spaced, or positioned to allow adequate cleaning access.

Food Safety Context

The food cooling standard cited in both critical violations is grounded in NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with the FDA Food Code's time-temperature requirements for potentially hazardous foods. These rules are designed to interrupt the conditions under which pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Bacillus cereus can multiply to unsafe concentrations.

Receiving the same critical violation twice in a single inspection typically indicates a systemic issue with cooling procedures rather than an isolated incident. Common causes include improper container depth, inadequate refrigeration capacity, or the absence of a structured cooling protocol for high-volume preparation.

The grade card posting requirement under Code 20-06 exists to ensure consumers can view current inspection results before entering a food service establishment. DOHMH requires the most recent letter grade or a Grade Pending card to be displayed in a window visible from the street or in a prominent interior location.

Inspection History

Homemade Taqueria has a lengthy inspection record with recurring elevated scores. Prior inspections documented by DOHMH include:

  • March 21, 2023: Score 37, closed by DOHMH
  • March 24, 2023: Score 0 (Grade C — reinspection following closure)
  • September 27, 2024: Score 32
  • January 29, 2025: Score 24 (Grade B)
  • April 10, 2025: Score 36
  • June 3, 2025: Score 45 (Grade Z)
  • September 25, 2025: Score 29

The April 2026 inspection score of 30 continues a pattern of scores in the C range or above, with only one Grade B result recorded in January 2025. The June 2025 score of 45 — one of the higher totals in the restaurant's recent history — was assigned a Grade Z designation, which DOHMH uses when a grade is pending adjudication or a reinspection is required before a letter grade is issued.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the total score accumulated during an inspection:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violations)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Each violation carries a point value based on its type and severity. Critical violations, which represent a higher risk of foodborne illness, generally carry greater point weights than non-critical violations. Restaurants that score in the B or C range during an initial inspection are typically subject to a reinspection within 30 to 45 days, at which point the official letter grade is determined.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review current grades and historical inspection data.

More About This Restaurant

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