Queens, NY — Ka Lok Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant at 134-18 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, received a Grade C score of 29 points following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on April 4, 2026. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026. Inspectors cited one critical violation and two non-critical violations during the visit.
What Inspectors Found
The most serious finding was a critical violation under Code 05D, which addresses hand-washing facility requirements. Inspectors documented that the establishment lacked a compliant hand-washing station in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware washing area. The cited conditions under this code can include a facility that is inaccessible or obstructed, one being used for non-hand-washing purposes, or a station lacking hot and cold running water, adequate water pressure, soap, or an acceptable hand-drying device.
Inspectors also identified two non-critical violations. Code 10G was cited for deficient cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, dishes, utensils, and equipment in the dishwashing and ware washing area. Additionally, Code 20-04 was recorded for the absence of required posted materials, including a "Choking First Aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and a sign indicating the availability of resuscitation equipment such as exhaled air resuscitation masks for adults and pediatric patients and latex gloves.
No closure order was issued as a result of this inspection. Violations were cited in the applicable areas and the restaurant remained open.
Food Safety Context
Hand-washing facility violations are classified as critical under the NYC Health Code because they directly affect the ability of food service workers to prevent the spread of foodborne illness. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that hand-washing sinks be conveniently located, accessible, and stocked with soap and appropriate drying materials at all times during operation. The FDA Food Code similarly identifies inadequate hand-washing facilities as a contributing factor to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Ware washing deficiencies, cited under Code 10G, are considered non-critical but remain a food safety concern. Inadequately cleaned or sanitized dishes and utensils can harbor bacteria and contribute to cross-contamination. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all equipment and utensils be cleaned and sanitized at appropriate intervals to prevent contamination.
Missing required postings under Code 20-04, while non-critical, represent administrative compliance failures. New York City requires food service establishments to display specific health and safety materials as a condition of operation.
Inspection History
Ka Lok Kitchen has an inspection history that reflects recurring difficulty maintaining scores in the passing range. The DOHMH's records for this location show:
- October 2, 2025: Score 39 (Grade C)
- August 5, 2025: Score not graded
- June 27, 2025: Score 42
- September 13, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)
- August 31, 2023: Score 66 (Grade C)
The April 2026 inspection marks the second consecutive graded inspection in which the restaurant received a Grade C. Prior to the current cycle, the restaurant achieved a Grade A score of 10 points in September 2023, indicating the establishment has demonstrated the ability to meet compliance standards in the past.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the number of points assessed during a DOHMH inspection, with lower scores indicating fewer violations and better compliance. Grades are assigned as follows:
- A: 0 to 13 points
- B: 14 to 27 points
- C: 28 points or more
A score of 29 points, as recorded at Ka Lok Kitchen in April 2026, places the restaurant at the lower end of the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade during an initial inspection are subject to a re-inspection, at which point a grade card is issued based on the second visit's score.
Consumers can look up inspection records for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's online database at the NYC Open Data portal or through the city's restaurant inspection lookup tool.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ka Lok Kitchen including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.