New York, NY — A total of 108 restaurants across all five boroughs earned Grade A health inspection scores on March 6, 2026, according to data from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The inspected establishments spanned more than 30 cuisine types, from Chinese and Caribbean to Australian and African, with an average score of 9.2 points — well within the A-grade threshold of 0 to 13 points.
The Inspections
The day's top performer was Zhengxin Chicken Steak on 86th Street in Brooklyn, which received a perfect score of 0 with no documented violations. Close behind, Carvel on Amboy Road in Staten Island earned a score of 2, cited only for non-food contact surfaces not kept clean. Baya Bar on West Broadway in Manhattan also scored 2, though inspectors noted a violation related to improper pesticide labeling or storage.
Across the boroughs, familiar chains and independent establishments alike demonstrated strong compliance. El Dorado Sports Lounge in Queens, serving Caribbean cuisine, scored 3 with a minor construction-related violation on non-food contact surfaces. In the Bronx, Mamma Rosa's on Allerton Avenue also earned a 3.
Several national chains performed well. Taco Bell on East 14th Street in Manhattan scored 4 for a plumbing-related violation. Paris Baguette on Avenue of the Americas received a 4, cited for surface cleanliness and providing plastic straws without customer request. Raising Cane's #0928 in Jackson Heights, Queens scored 6 for food storage protection issues, while Five Guys on Northern Boulevard in Queens earned a 7 for a hot-holding temperature violation.
Independent restaurants across Manhattan showed strong results. Think Coffee on Bleecker Street scored 6. The Grey Dog on Carmine Street earned a 7, with citations for food contact surface sanitation and toilet facility maintenance. Two Hands, the Australian-inspired cafe on Bleecker Street, scored 8 for food contact surface issues. Arturo's on West Houston Street, a longtime Italian fixture, received a 9 for pesticide-related violations. Hearth on East 12th Street scored 10 for food storage protection.
The Bronx contributed notable results as well. Dunkin on Bartow Avenue scored 4. Jarto E Sushi, a fusion restaurant on Mosholu Avenue, earned a 6. Danbako Bbq Restaurant, an African cuisine establishment on East 169th Street, scored 11, and Taco Bell on Jerome Avenue received a 9 for personal cleanliness violations.
Brooklyn's inspections covered a wide range. Tofu Box, a vegetarian restaurant on Grand Street, scored 6. Bk Jani, a Pakistani restaurant on Gold Street, earned 8. Little Grenjai, a Thai spot on Gates Avenue, scored 9 for cold-holding temperature issues. Tete-A-Tete, a Russian restaurant on East 14th Street in Brighton Beach, scored 13 — right at the A-grade cutoff.
Staten Island saw three restaurants inspected, all earning Grade A: Carvel at 2, Bittersweet Bake Shoppe at 5 for lacking a properly calibrated thermometer, and The New Dinette at 7 for a hot-holding temperature issue.
Higher-scoring establishments that still earned their A grades included Le Marais, a kosher restaurant in Midtown, at 12 with evidence of mice documented; Wingstop on Flatbush Avenue at 11 with evidence of rats noted; and Kfc / Taco Bell on McGuinness Boulevard at 13, also with rat evidence cited. While these restaurants earned passing grades, the pest-related violations represent areas requiring continued attention.
Japanese cuisine was well represented, with Shabu Shabu Mayumon on Division Street scoring 10, Genki Omakase on LaGuardia Place at 10, and Omi Omakase in Flushing, Queens at 13.
Common Patterns
Several trends emerged from the day's inspections. The most frequently cited violation category involved non-food contact surfaces — equipment or surfaces not kept clean, not properly sealed, or constructed of unacceptable materials. This appeared in more than 30 of the 108 inspections. The second most common category involved food protection during storage and preparation, followed by temperature control violations for both hot and cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods.
Manhattan accounted for the largest share of inspections with approximately 45 restaurants, followed by Brooklyn with around 25, Queens with roughly 20, the Bronx with about 12, and Staten Island with 3. Chinese restaurants represented the most inspected cuisine type with 10 establishments, followed by American cuisine, coffee and tea shops, and juice and smoothie bars.
Notably, 24 restaurants scored 7 or below, indicating minimal violations, while the majority clustered between 10 and 13 points — still well within passing range but reflecting the common operational challenges of running a food service establishment in New York City.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A score indicates that a restaurant met the Department of Health's standards during its inspection, with a point total between 0 and 13. Every restaurant inspection is a snapshot of conditions on the day the inspector visits. Restaurants are subject to unannounced inspections, typically conducted in cycles that include an initial inspection and, if needed, a reinspection.
Diners can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations and scores, on the NYC Department of Health's online database or through sites like NYCRestaurantInspections.com. Each restaurant listed above has a dedicated facility page with its full inspection record.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered under NYC Health Code Article 81, assigns letter grades based on point totals accumulated during inspections. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and risk to public health.
Grade A is awarded to restaurants scoring between 0 and 13 points. Grade B covers scores from 14 to 27 points, and Grade C is assigned to establishments scoring 28 points or higher. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a reinspection and can post a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting the outcome.
Critical violations — such as improper food temperatures, evidence of pests, or inadequate handwashing facilities — carry higher point values than general violations related to maintenance or signage. All 108 restaurants inspected on March 6 maintained scores within the A range, though some had critical violations that were offset by otherwise clean operations.
For the most current inspection results and to search any NYC restaurant's health history, visit NYCRestaurantInspections.com or the NYC Department of Health's public database.