Staten Island, NY — Pho Today, a Korean restaurant located at 2530 Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island, received a score of 83 points during a health inspection conducted on February 21, 2026. The inspection documented three critical violations, all related to food safety fundamentals including temperature control and personal hygiene practices.
The score of 83 places the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation under the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most significant violation cited during the inspection involved hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items not being held at or above 140°F, as required under violation code 02B. TCS foods — which include cooked meats, rice, soups, and other items prone to bacterial growth — must be maintained at proper temperatures to prevent the proliferation of harmful pathogens. When hot foods fall below the 140°F threshold, they enter what food safety professionals refer to as the "temperature danger zone" (41°F to 140°F), where bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply rapidly.
Inspectors also cited the restaurant under violation code 04J for not having a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas. Without functioning thermometers available, kitchen staff cannot verify that TCS foods are being cooked, cooled, reheated, and held at temperatures sufficient to prevent foodborne illness. This violation is directly connected to the temperature holding issue, as accessible thermometers are a frontline tool for monitoring food safety compliance.
The third critical violation, cited under code 06A, related to personal cleanliness standards. The inspection noted inadequate personal cleanliness, which may include issues 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 personal hygiene requirements exist to prevent physical and biological contaminants from being transferred to food during preparation and service.
No non-critical violations were documented during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the sanitary standards all food service establishments must meet. The inspection criteria also align with the FDA Food Code, which provides the scientific basis for temperature control requirements and personal hygiene standards in food service operations.
The 140°F hot holding requirement is a cornerstone of food safety science. The FDA Food Code specifies this temperature as the minimum at which hot TCS foods must be maintained because most pathogenic bacteria cannot grow at or above this threshold. Establishments that fail to maintain proper temperatures risk creating conditions where foodborne illness can occur.
The requirement for accessible, calibrated thermometers reflects the principle that food safety must be verifiable. Without proper measuring instruments, temperature compliance cannot be confirmed, making this a foundational requirement for any food service operation.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for this establishment in the current DOHMH dataset. This may indicate that this is a relatively new establishment or that previous inspection records fall outside the current data reporting window.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH grading system:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points (lowest number of violation points)
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations. A score of 83 points is significantly above the Grade C threshold of 28 points. Restaurants that receive scores in the B or C range are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially receive a lower score.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's current grade and full inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database available online. Inspection results for Pho Today and all New York City restaurants are public record and can be accessed at any time.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Pho Today including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.