Queens, NY — J & K Gourmet, a Chinese restaurant located at 23-02 College Point Boulevard in the College Point neighborhood of Queens, received a score of 29 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 17, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented three critical violations and two non-critical violations during the visit.
J & K Gourmet restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">What Inspectors Found
The most significant finding involved evidence of mice. Inspectors cited the restaurant twice under violation code 04L for evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food and non-food areas. The duplicate citation indicates that mouse activity was documented in multiple locations within the premises during the single inspection visit.
Inspectors also cited the restaurant for a critical violation under code 06C, which addresses the protection of food, supplies, and equipment from potential sources of contamination. The violation noted that items were not adequately protected during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Additionally, condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, creating potential cross-contamination concerns.
Two non-critical violations were also recorded. Under code 09A, inspectors found swollen, leaking, rusted, or otherwise damaged canned food that had not been properly segregated from intact product and clearly labeled "DO NOT USE" for return to the distributor. A second non-critical violation under code 20-04 noted the absence of required posted signage, including the "Choking first aid" poster, the "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and resuscitation equipment signage for exhaled air resuscitation masks and latex gloves.
The inspection action noted that violations were cited in the listed areas. The data was released by DOHMH on February 24, 2026, one week after the inspection was conducted.
Food Safety Context
Evidence of mice in a food service establishment represents a serious food safety concern under NYC Health Code Article 81, which requires restaurants to maintain sanitary conditions and implement effective pest management programs. The presence of rodent activity in both food and non-food areas suggests a need for comprehensive pest control measures.
The FDA Food Code classifies pest activity as a critical violation because rodents can carry pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Hantavirus. Their presence near food preparation and storage areas increases the risk of contamination through droppings, urine, and direct contact with food surfaces.
The food protection violation cited under code 06C relates to core principles of contamination prevention outlined in both the FDA Food Code and NYC Health Code Article 81. Proper storage and protection of food supplies is considered fundamental to maintaining food safety standards in commercial food service operations.
Inspection History
J & K Gourmet's inspection record over the past several years shows a pattern of elevated scores:
- November 24, 2025: Score 33 (Grade Z)
- January 6, 2025: Score 21
- March 21, 2024: Score 38 (Grade C)
- June 28, 2023: Score 35
- May 5, 2022: Score 6 (Grade P)
- April 27, 2022: Score not recorded
The restaurant's most recent prior inspection in November 2025 resulted in a score of 33 with a Grade Z designation, which typically indicates a restaurant is awaiting an adjudication hearing or re-inspection. The current score of 29 represents a slight improvement from that inspection but remains in the Grade C range. The establishment's only low score in recent history was a 6 recorded in May 2022.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health codes. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection or an adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
Consumers can verify restaurant inspection results through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection scores, violation details, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in New York City are publicly accessible through this resource.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for J & K Gourmet including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.