Queens, NY — Junction Cake Box, a bakery located at 57-01 Junction Boulevard in Elmhurst, received a score of 27 following a health inspection conducted on March 27, 2026 — the highest possible score within the Grade B range and one point below the Grade C threshold. The score was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two violations during the March inspection: one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 03C, involved unclean or cracked whole eggs, or unpasteurized liquid, frozen, or powdered eggs being kept or used on the premises. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, cracked or unclean eggs are considered a significant food safety risk because they can serve as a source of Salmonella contamination. Shell integrity and proper sourcing of egg products are standard requirements for food service operations.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 20-04, noted the absence of required postings: a "Choking First Aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and signage indicating the availability of resuscitation equipment including exhaled air resuscitation masks and latex gloves. These postings are required by New York City regulation and must be displayed in accessible areas of the establishment.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food safety standards for all permitted food service establishments in the five boroughs. Egg handling requirements specifically address sourcing, storage, and condition of shell eggs, as improperly handled eggs are among the leading contributors to foodborne illness outbreaks in food service settings.

A score of 27 places Junction Cake Box at the upper boundary of the Grade B range. While the establishment retains a passing grade under DOHMH's grading system, scores at this level reflect a greater accumulation of violations than lower-scoring establishments in the same grade category.

Inspection History

Junction Cake Box has been inspected regularly, with results varying over recent cycles:

  • May 21, 2026: Score 25 (Grade Z)
  • March 19, 2025: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • March 15, 2024: Score 2 (Grade A)
  • May 25, 2023: Score 20
  • May 10, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)

The restaurant maintained Grade A scores in 2022, 2024, and 2025. The most recent cycle, including both the March 27 inspection (score 27) and a subsequent May 21 inspection (score 25, Grade Z), represents a notable departure from those earlier results. A Grade Z designation is typically issued when a grade is pending or under administrative review.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores under the following scale:

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

Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants scoring in the upper portion of the Grade B range, as Junction Cake Box did in March 2026, are closer to the Grade C threshold than those scoring in the 14–20 range.

Inspection records for all NYC food service establishments are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Junction Cake Box including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.