Queens, NY — Mira Sushi, a Japanese restaurant located at 153-11 Union Turnpike in the Kew Gardens Hills neighborhood, was re-closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection that resulted in a score of 48 points — placing the establishment in C-grade territory. The inspection was conducted on June 10, 2026, with data released by DOHMH on June 15, 2026.

The closure marks the second time the restaurant has been closed by health authorities within a two-week period, raising concerns about sustained compliance issues at the location.

What Inspectors Found

During the June 10 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation, which alone contributed significantly to the restaurant's score.

The violation cited was Code 05D: the absence of an accessible and properly equipped hand-washing facility in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware-washing area. Inspectors recorded that the hand-washing facility was either not accessible, obstructed, or being used for non-hand-washing purposes. The citation also noted the absence of hot and cold running water at adequate pressure, as well as missing soap or an acceptable hand-drying device.

Hand-washing infrastructure is considered foundational to food safety operations. When employees cannot wash their hands properly — whether due to blocked access, missing supplies, or inadequate water pressure — the risk of pathogen transfer to food and surfaces increases substantially.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to maintain hand-washing facilities that are continuously accessible to all food handlers. These facilities must supply hot and cold running water, soap, and an appropriate hand-drying method. Obstructing or repurposing a hand-washing sink — for storage, food prep, or any other use — is a direct violation of these standards.

Critical violations, as defined by DOHMH, are those most directly linked to conditions that can lead to foodborne illness. A single critical violation can result in a substantial point deduction, and a score of 28 or above places a restaurant in the C-grade range. Mira Sushi's score of 48 is well above that threshold.

When a restaurant receives a score that warrants closure during an inspection, DOHMH may issue an order requiring the establishment to cease operations immediately. The restaurant is then subject to a re-inspection before it is permitted to reopen.

Inspection History

Mira Sushi's recent inspection record reflects a pattern of compliance difficulty. The history on file with DOHMH includes the following entries:

  • June 15, 2026: Score 2 (Grade Z) — establishment reopened
  • June 10, 2026: Score 48 (Grade C) — re-closed by DOHMH
  • June 4, 2026: Score 63 — closed by DOHMH
  • August 21, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)

The August 2024 inspection resulted in an A grade, indicating the restaurant had previously met high compliance standards. The two closures in June 2026 represent a significant departure from that record. Notably, the June 15 reopening — which yielded a score of 2 — suggests inspectors found the facility largely compliant at that point, making the June 10 re-closure a snapshot of conditions that existed before that corrective action was completed.

The "Grade Z" designation used in the June 15 entry is assigned when a restaurant is in the process of being graded or is undergoing re-inspection following a closure. It does not represent a final letter grade under the standard A/B/C system.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system is administered by DOHMH and assigns a letter grade based on the number of points accumulated during an unannounced inspection. Points are added for each violation found, with critical violations typically carrying higher point values.

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or more

Restaurants that receive a score above 13 on an initial inspection are re-inspected. If the score on the second visit remains above 13, the restaurant receives the corresponding B or C grade card, which must be posted in a window visible from the street.

Inspection records for all NYC restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or neighborhood to review current grades, historical scores, and specific violations on file.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Mira Sushi including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.