Queens, NY — Jiu Yu Ju, a Chinese restaurant located at 4412 Kissena Blvd in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on June 23, 2026. The establishment received a score of 120, well above the threshold for a C grade under the city's restaurant grading system.

DOHMH data covering this inspection was released publicly on June 25, 2026. Inspectors documented two violations during the visit — one critical and one non-critical — and required that issues necessitating immediate action be addressed before the restaurant could resume operations.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited Jiu Yu Ju for one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the June 23 inspection.

The critical violation, Code 06A, relates to personal cleanliness standards. Under this code, inspectors recorded deficiencies including soiled outer garments with possible contaminant contact, failure to wear effective hair restraints in required areas, jewelry worn on hands or arms during food handling, and fingernails that were not kept clean and trimmed or on which nail polish was worn. Personal cleanliness violations are classified as critical because improper hygiene practices among food handlers represent a direct pathway for biological contamination of food.

The non-critical violation, Code 09C, pertained to food contact surfaces. Inspectors noted that the design, construction, materials, or maintenance of one or more food contact surfaces were improper, with the surface found to be not easily cleanable, sanitized, or maintained. Food contact surfaces that cannot be adequately cleaned may harbor bacteria or other contaminants over time, creating conditions that increase food safety risk.

Both violations were cited, and those requiring immediate corrective action were addressed on-site as a condition of the closure process.

Food Safety Context

The violations documented at Jiu Yu Ju fall under standards established by NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments operating in New York City, and align with guidance set forth in the FDA Food Code.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service workers are required to maintain personal hygiene practices that prevent contamination of food, food contact surfaces, and utensils. This includes wearing clean outer garments, using proper hair restraints, limiting jewelry on hands and arms during food preparation, and maintaining clean, trimmed fingernails. The Code 06A violation reflects a failure to meet one or more of these baseline requirements.

The FDA Food Code similarly requires that food contact surfaces be constructed from materials that are smooth, durable, nonabsorbent, and capable of withstanding repeated cleaning and sanitizing. Surfaces that do not meet these standards may retain food particles or moisture, which can support bacterial growth between cleaning cycles.

A score of 120 is significantly above the city's C-grade threshold of 28 points. Scores at this level typically reflect the cumulative point weight assigned to multiple violations, particularly when critical violations — which carry higher point values — are present.

Inspection History

Jiu Yu Ju's inspection record on file with DOHMH shows the following prior activity:

  • March 11, 2026: Score 75 (Grade N)

The March 2026 inspection resulted in a Grade N designation. In NYC's restaurant grading system, a Grade N is assigned when an establishment's score does not yet qualify for an A, B, or C grade — typically because the inspection is part of an ongoing cycle or a reinspection has not yet been conducted. A score of 75 at that visit indicated a substantially elevated violation load at that time as well.

The June 23, 2026 inspection represents the most recent activity on record for this establishment, and the closure action documented at that visit is reflected in current DOHMH data.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading program, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the number of points accumulated during a sanitary inspection. Lower scores indicate better compliance with food safety standards. The grading scale is as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or more
  • Grade N / Grade Pending: Assigned when a final grade has not yet been determined, typically during an inspection cycle

Inspection results for all New York City restaurants are available to the public through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search for any licensed food service establishment by name, address, or zip code at the NYC Open Data portal or through the DOHMH website. Inspection records reflect data as reported at the time of each inspection and are updated as new inspections are conducted or grade appeals are resolved.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Jiu Yu Ju including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.