Bronx, NY — Kennedy Chicken & Burgers, located at 2537 Webster Avenue in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a routine inspection conducted on February 9, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 43 points, placing it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspectors documented two violations, including one critical violation involving live cockroaches on the premises.
Kennedy Chicken & Burgers restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 11, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 9 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified the following violations at the Webster Avenue location:
The critical violation, cited under Code 04M, documented live roaches present in the facility's food or non-food areas. The presence of live cockroaches is classified as a critical violation because these pests can carry and transmit harmful bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli, posing a direct risk to food safety and public health.
Inspectors also cited one non-critical violation under Code 10F, noting that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. Improperly maintained equipment and surfaces can harbor pests and bacteria, compounding the sanitation concerns identified during the inspection.
Based on the severity of the findings, DOHMH ordered the establishment closed. According to the agency's action report, violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must meet. Under these regulations, the presence of live pests such as cockroaches constitutes a critical violation that can result in immediate closure of a food establishment. The FDA Food Code similarly classifies pest activity in food preparation and storage areas as a critical risk factor for foodborne illness.
Cockroach infestations in food service environments are a well-documented public health concern. According to the FDA Food Code, pests can contaminate food, food-contact surfaces, and packaging materials through direct contact, droppings, and the bacteria they carry on their bodies. Effective pest management is considered a fundamental component of food safety operations.
When DOHMH orders a closure, the establishment must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to reopen to the public. This process ensures that conditions posing an immediate health risk are fully remediated before food service resumes.
Inspection History
A review of the restaurant's inspection record shows that Kennedy Chicken & Burgers had maintained consistent Grade A scores in its three most recent inspections prior to the February 2026 closure:
- February 19, 2026: Score 5, Grade Z (reopened following closure)
- February 9, 2026: Score 43, Grade C, closed by DOHMH
- September 23, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
- October 4, 2023: Score 12, Grade A
- May 16, 2022: Score 13, Grade A
The restaurant's prior record is notable for its consistency. Scores of 12 and 13 fall comfortably within the Grade A range, indicating that the establishment had previously demonstrated compliance with health code standards over a multi-year period. The score of 43 on February 9 represented a significant departure from this pattern.
Following the closure, Kennedy Chicken & Burgers underwent a re-inspection on February 19, 2026, receiving a score of 5 points and was permitted to reopen. The Grade Z designation in the inspection record indicates a re-inspection following a closure, not a standard grading inspection. The low score of 5 on the follow-up visit indicates that the establishment successfully addressed the violations that led to the closure.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. Fewer points indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection. Grades must be posted at the entrance of the establishment so that the public can make informed dining decisions.
Public Resources
Residents can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database includes inspection dates, scores, grades, violation details, and any enforcement actions taken.
All inspection data referenced in this article is sourced from official DOHMH public records. Consumers with food safety concerns about any food establishment may contact 311 or file a complaint through the NYC 311 website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Kennedy Chicken & Burgers including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.