Queens, NY — A March 2026 health inspection at Niyom Thai, located at 33-47 Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens, resulted in a score of 55, placing the restaurant in Grade C territory under New York City's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit. The inspection was conducted on March 24, 2026, with data released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 26, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The more serious of the two violations — classified as critical — involved food contact surfaces. Under violation code 06D, inspectors noted that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities during which contamination may have occurred. This type of violation is categorized as critical because improperly sanitized surfaces that come into direct contact with food can serve as a pathway for cross-contamination and foodborne illness.

The second violation, classified as non-critical, was recorded under code 10E: an accurate thermometer was not provided or was not properly located in refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment. Proper temperature monitoring equipment is required to verify that food is being stored at safe temperatures, as outlined under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the food safety standards that all permitted food service establishments in the city must meet. The FDA Food Code, which informs local regulations, identifies improper sanitation of food contact surfaces as a contributing factor in a significant share of foodborne illness outbreaks.

Violation code 06D — the critical violation cited here — carries particular weight in DOHMH scoring because of the direct contamination risk it presents. Cutting boards, prep surfaces, utensils, and other equipment that contact food must be cleaned and sanitized following each use, and especially after handling raw proteins or other potential contamination sources.

Thermometer accuracy and placement, addressed by code 10E, is a foundational element of temperature control. Without functioning, properly positioned thermometers, staff cannot reliably confirm that cold storage is maintaining temperatures at or below 41°F, as required.

Inspection History

Niyom Thai's most recent inspection prior to March 2026 took place in July 2025, when the restaurant scored a 20 — a Grade B result. The restaurant previously earned a Grade A in November 2023 with a score of 12. The full inspection record is as follows:

  • March 24, 2026: Score 55 (Grade C), one critical violation, one non-critical violation
  • 2025-07-17: Score 20 (Grade B)
  • 2023-11-30: Score 12 (Grade A)

The jump from a Grade B in July 2025 to a Grade C in March 2026 reflects a significant increase in scored violations across this inspection cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores, which are calculated by adding point values assigned to each violation. Lower scores reflect fewer or less serious violations. The grading scale works as follows:

  • A: Score of 0–13 points
  • B: Score of 14–27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher

A Grade C indicates that the establishment accumulated 28 or more points during the inspection. Restaurants that receive a score above 13 on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within a month. The grade displayed publicly — either on a letter card posted in the window or via the DOHMH online lookup — may reflect the most recent scored inspection or a grade pending adjudication.

Niyom Thai was not ordered closed as a result of this inspection. The violations cited are subject to the restaurant's right to administrative review.

Consumers can look up current inspection records and posted grades for any NYC permitted restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Complaints about food safety conditions can be submitted to 311.

More About This Restaurant

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