Queens, NY — Mr Luos Noodles, a Chinese restaurant located at 41-12 College Point Boulevard in Flushing, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on January 22, 2026. The establishment received a score of 76 points, well above the 28-point threshold for the lowest passing grade, with inspectors documenting three critical violations. The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
All three violations cited during the January 22 inspection were classified as critical, indicating conditions that could directly contribute to foodborne illness.
Inspectors documented that cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods were being held above 41°F. TCS foods — which include items such as meat, poultry, dairy, cooked vegetables, and certain prepared dishes — must be maintained at or below specific temperatures to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Smoked or processed fish must be held below 38°F, and intact raw eggs below 45°F. Failure to maintain proper cold holding temperatures is one of the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City restaurant inspections and is a leading contributor to foodborne illness.
The inspection also identified personal cleanliness violations. These included findings related to inadequate personal hygiene practices among food handlers, such as soiled outer garments, lack of effective hair restraints in required areas, jewelry worn on hands or arms, or fingernail polish and improperly maintained fingernails. These conditions increase the risk of physical and biological contamination of food during preparation and service.
Additionally, inspectors noted that no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). New York City requires that at least one supervisory staff member at every food service establishment maintain a current FPC, which demonstrates training in safe food handling, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and allergen awareness. The absence of a certified supervisor on duty represents a gap in the food safety management structure of the establishment.
The combination of these three critical violations resulted in the establishment being closed by DOHMH, with the cited violations requiring immediate corrective action before the restaurant could resume operations.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81 and incorporates standards from the FDA Food Code. The scoring system assigns point values to each violation based on severity, with critical violations carrying higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.
Cold holding temperature violations are classified as critical because the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 135°F — allows rapid bacterial multiplication. Pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes can reach dangerous levels in TCS foods held at improper temperatures within a matter of hours.
The Food Protection Certificate requirement exists to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role at every food establishment has demonstrated knowledge of food safety principles. This requirement is codified in NYC Health Code §81.15 and is considered a foundational element of a restaurant's food safety management system.
When DOHMH determines that conditions at an establishment pose an imminent public health hazard, inspectors have the authority to order an immediate closure. The establishment may reopen after correcting the cited violations and passing a re-inspection.
Inspection History
Mr Luos Noodles has had multiple inspections recorded by DOHMH in recent years:
- January 28, 2026: Score 0 — Reopened following the January 22 closure
- January 22, 2026: Score 76 — Closed by DOHMH (3 critical violations)
- December 3, 2024: Score 27 (Grade Z)
- March 21, 2024: Score 49
The restaurant's inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores. The December 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 27, just below the 28-point threshold for a Grade C. The March 2024 inspection produced a score of 49, indicating multiple violations at that time as well. Following the January 22, 2026 closure, records indicate the restaurant was reopened on January 28, 2026 after receiving a score of 0, suggesting all previously cited violations had been corrected.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
A lower score indicates fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a score of 28 or higher on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Establishments that are closed must correct all cited violations before they can reopen.
Consumers can look up the most current inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. Inspection scores and grades reflect conditions observed at the time of inspection and may not represent current conditions, particularly if corrective actions have been taken since the inspection date.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Mr Luos Noodles including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.