Queens, NY — Pho Che, a Southeast Asian restaurant located at 193-16 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, received a score of 37 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 16, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade C category under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 19, 2026.
The inspection resulted in one non-critical violation. No critical violations were recorded during this visit.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors cited one violation under Code 10H, related to the handling and dispensing of single-service articles. Specifically, the violation noted that drinking straws were not completely enclosed in a wrapper or dispensed from a sanitary device, leaving them exposed to potential contamination.
Single-service article violations fall under standards designed to prevent indirect contamination of items that come into contact with customers' mouths. While classified as non-critical — meaning the violation does not represent an immediate health hazard — it nonetheless contributed to the restaurant's overall point total and resulting grade.
The single violation accounted for the full score of 37 points, which is notable given that non-critical violations typically carry lower point values than critical ones. Scores in this range typically reflect either a higher-weighted individual violation or an accumulation of multiple issues. In this case, the sole cited violation produced a score well into Grade C territory.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes food safety standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program uses an unannounced inspection model, with restaurants receiving letter grades based on their point totals.
The FDA Food Code, which informs many of the city's specific standards, outlines requirements for the storage, dispensing, and protection of single-service and single-use articles. The intent is to prevent contamination from surfaces, airborne particles, or handling prior to use by a customer.
Non-critical violations, while not posing an immediate risk to public health, indicate conditions that do not fully meet code requirements and that — if left unaddressed — could develop into more serious concerns over time. DOHMH requires that all violations be corrected, with follow-up inspections used to verify compliance.
Inspection History
Pho Che has a mixed but generally positive inspection record in recent years. Prior inspections on file include:
- September 3, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- May 15, 2024: Score 27
- December 15, 2022: Score 13 (Grade A)
The restaurant earned Grade A scores in both its 2022 and most recent 2024 inspections, suggesting a track record of general compliance. The May 2024 inspection, which resulted in a score of 27, fell just below the Grade C threshold and did not result in a letter grade being posted. The current score of 37 represents the restaurant's lowest recorded score in the available history.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grade system is designed to give diners a quick, at-a-glance summary of a restaurant's most recent inspection results. Grades are calculated based on the total number of points assigned during an inspection, with each violation carrying a designated point value based on its severity and type.
The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0–13 points
- B: Score of 14–27 points
- C: Score of 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a B or C score on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, at which point the resulting grade is what gets posted publicly. If a restaurant scores in the Grade C range, it may also opt to have its grade adjudicated by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
Diners seeking to review restaurant inspection records can access full results through the NYC DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the city's open data portal. The database includes violation codes, scores, and grade history for all inspected establishments citywide.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Pho Che including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.