Manhattan, NY — Made In Mexico, a Mexican restaurant located at 3950 10th Avenue in the Inwood neighborhood, received a score of 40 during a health inspection conducted on February 28, 2026, resulting in a Grade C rating. Inspectors documented two critical violations, including food contamination and improper sanitation practices, marking a significant departure from the restaurant's previously clean inspection record.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 3, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most serious violation cited during the inspection involved adulterated, contaminated, or cross-contaminated food that was not handled or discarded in accordance with the restaurant's HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan. This violation, recorded under code 04H, relates directly to food safety protocols designed to prevent foodborne illness.

Inspectors also cited the restaurant for a second critical violation under code 06F: wiping cloths were not being stored clean and dry, or kept in a proper sanitizing solution, between uses. When wiping cloths are not properly maintained, they can become a vehicle for spreading bacteria across food preparation surfaces, utensils, and equipment.

A non-critical violation was also noted under code 15-42 for failure to make a good faith effort to inform patrons about the Smoke-Free Air Act prohibitions regarding smoking and electronic cigarette use on the premises.

Food Safety Context

The violations documented at Made In Mexico relate to fundamental food safety requirements established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code.

Food contamination and cross-contamination violations are among the most closely monitored by DOHMH inspectors because of their direct connection to foodborne illness. The FDA Food Code requires that food establishments maintain proper separation between raw and ready-to-eat foods, discard items that have been adulterated, and follow their HACCP plans consistently.

The wiping cloth violation addresses a commonly cited but important sanitation concern. According to the FDA Food Code, wiping cloths used for cleaning food contact surfaces must be stored in sanitizing solution of appropriate concentration between uses or laundered and kept dry. Improperly stored cloths can harbor pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which can then be transferred to surfaces where food is prepared or served.

A score of 40 places the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation, indicating that the cumulative weight of the violations found was substantial.

Inspection History

Made In Mexico's prior inspection record had been consistently strong before this most recent visit:

  • Feb 28, 2026: Score 40 (Grade C)
  • Mar 10, 2022: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • Jan 23, 2020: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • Jan 7, 2020: Initial inspection (score not recorded)

The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores in both of its previous fully scored inspections, making the jump to a 40-point Grade C a notable change. Restaurants that receive a Grade C are typically subject to a re-inspection by DOHMH, during which they have the opportunity to correct the cited violations and improve their score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Critical violations carry more points than general (non-critical) violations, and conditions that pose an immediate public health hazard carry the greatest weight.

Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and will be re-inspected. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the most recent inspection outcome until a new inspection is completed.

The public can review the full inspection history for Made In Mexico and all other New York City restaurants through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at NYC.gov. Consumers can also view inspection details through the ABCEats app provided by the city.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Made In Mexico including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.