New York, NY — On March 23, 2026, health inspectors from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene visited restaurants across all five boroughs and awarded Grade A scores to 91 establishments. The inspected locations averaged 9.1 points — well within the 0–13 point range required for top marks — and represented an unusually wide cross-section of the city's culinary landscape, from fast-food counters in the Bronx to a Scandinavian café in Clinton Hill.
The Inspections
Among the strongest performers of the day, Chipotle Mexican Grill on Broadway in the Upper West Side recorded a score of 0 with no violations documented, as did a Dunkin location in Queens. Two other establishments also posted scores of 2: Chelsea Bagel & Pizzeria on East 34th Street in Manhattan and Made In New York Pizza on Broadway on the Upper West Side, the latter cited for a drainage and back-flow prevention issue.
Several neighborhood staples also performed well. Birria L.E.S. on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side earned a score of 3, with inspectors noting a non-food contact surface cleanliness issue. Un Posto Italiano in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Magnolia Bakery near Penn Station both came in at 4 points, each cited for minor equipment and surface cleanliness concerns.
Korean cuisine was well represented among the top scorers. The Cast Iron Pot 3 in Flushing and Seoul Ttukbaegi in Queens each earned scores of 12, with thermometer placement and temperature holding cited as minor issues. Jeju Noodle Bar in the West Village scored 12 as well, cited only for a non-food contact surface concern. Chung Moo Roll Rice & Donga in Flushing came in at the Grade A ceiling of 13.
Among the more distinctive dining establishments, Smør Clinton Hill — one of a handful of Scandinavian restaurants in the city — earned a score of 13 in Brooklyn, with inspectors noting a single-service article storage issue and a general food protection concern. Kusina Pinoy Bistro in Woodside, Queens, brought Filipino cuisine to the Grade A list with a score of 12. Mercado Central in Park Slope, a tapas spot, scored 7 despite a food adulteration and personal cleanliness notation.
Several well-known chains also passed inspection. Burger King in Jamaica, Queens, earned a score of 7 for a cold holding temperature issue, while a second Burger King on 125th Street in Harlem scored 12 with a non-food contact surface citation. Subway at East 14th Street in Manhattan earned a score of 3, and a Subway in the Bronx came in at 8, cited for a food contact surface sanitization concern.
Notable dining destinations rounding out the list include Ippudo, the acclaimed Japanese ramen restaurant in Midtown, which earned a score of 13 with a drainage citation; Il Postino Ristorante on the Upper East Side, which scored 11 with a food contact surface sanitization issue; and Maman in the West Village, which posted a score of 10 for improperly stored wiping cloths.
Jake's Steakhouse in Riverdale, the Bronx, earned a score of 10, cited for a food protection issue. Horses & Divorces in Williamsburg scored 10, cited for food contact surface sanitization. Elias Corner For Fish, the long-running seafood spot in Astoria, Queens, came in at 13 with minor surface and food protection citations.
Entertainment venues with food service also passed. Kick Axe Throwing in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and Melody Lanes, the bowling alley in Sunset Park, each scored 12, as did Madame Tussaud's in Times Square, where inspectors noted harborage conditions.
Caribbean cuisine had a strong showing. Trinciti Roti Shop & Restaurant in South Ozone Park earned a score of 9, cited for a hot holding temperature issue. Debe Kitchen in Flatbush scored 5, and Frontpage Restaurant11 in the Bronx earned a 13, cited for temperature holding and food protection concerns.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation across the 91 Grade A inspections on this date involved non-food contact surfaces — equipment not kept clean, not properly sealed, or made of unacceptable materials. This category appeared in roughly a third of the cited violations and is considered a lower-severity concern under NYC Health Code Article 81.
Cold and hot temperature control violations were the second most common finding. Restaurants including The Greats Of Craft in Long Island City, Taste Of Heaven in Williamsburg, and Carmine's Pizza in Williamsburg all earned Grade A scores despite cold TCS food holding temperature citations — these violations carry moderate point values and remained within the passing threshold.
Drainage and back-flow prevention device issues appeared at multiple establishments, including Wingstop in Washington Heights, La Tamaleria Colombiana in Jackson Heights, and Lucky Tiger NYC in the Financial District.
Geographically, Manhattan contributed the largest share of Grade A locations on this date, followed by Brooklyn and Queens. The Bronx was represented by four establishments, including Cestras Pizza III in Westchester Square at a score of 9. Food Protection Certificate citations — where a certified food handler was not present or documentation was unavailable — appeared at a small number of locations, including Botanica in Red Hook and Kijitora Coffee in Williamsburg, both at 12 points.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A designation signals that an establishment met the city's most demanding food safety standards on the day of inspection. Under the NYC restaurant grading system, administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Grade A scores fall between 0 and 13 points. Grade B ranges from 14 to 27 points, and Grade C covers scores of 28 or higher.
Points are assigned based on the nature and severity of violations found. Critical violations — such as improper food temperatures or evidence of pests — carry higher point values than general violations, such as missing signage or equipment surface issues. A restaurant can receive citations and still earn a Grade A if the total point tally remains at or below 13.
Diners can look up current inspection grades and violation histories for any NYC restaurant at the city's Restaurant Inspection Results portal. Grades must be posted in the front window of every inspected establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
The NYC letter grading system has been in place since 2010 and is modeled on standards established under the FDA Food Code. Inspections are unannounced and occur at least once per year for most establishments, with follow-up inspections required for any restaurant that does not initially earn a Grade A.
Scores are calculated by trained sanitarians who assess food handling, temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, and pest prevention. Each violation type is assigned a set point value under the city's scoring matrix.
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that do not receive a Grade A on their initial inspection are re-inspected, and the resulting grade from that follow-up visit is posted publicly. The 91 establishments that earned Grade A scores on March 23, 2026, represent a broad cross-section of New York City's dining landscape — from corner bagel shops and Caribbean roti counters to ramen bars and French cafés — each meeting the threshold that the city's health code sets for its highest rating.