Brooklyn, NY — A Popeyes Louisiana Chicken location at 2779 86th Street in Brooklyn received a Grade C following a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted April 2, 2026, with data released publicly on April 6, 2026. The restaurant scored 33 points, placing it in the lowest publicly displayed grade category under New York City's restaurant inspection system.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one violation during the April 2 visit, classified as non-critical under the city's scoring system.
The cited violation, Code 10F, relates to non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or positioned to allow adequate cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. While this type of violation does not involve direct food handling or contamination, surfaces that cannot be effectively cleaned can contribute to unsanitary conditions over time if left unaddressed.
No critical violations were identified during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
New York City requires all restaurants to undergo unannounced inspections conducted by DOHMH inspectors trained to evaluate compliance with NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments. Violations are assigned point values based on their severity and potential public health impact.
Under the FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's inspection standards, equipment and non-food contact surfaces must be designed and maintained to facilitate cleaning and prevent the accumulation of debris, grease, or other contaminants. Code 10F violations address situations where equipment placement, construction materials, or maintenance practices make thorough cleaning difficult or impossible.
A score of 33 points — while resulting from a single violation in this case — reflects the point weight assigned to that specific code violation by DOHMH inspectors. The grade posted in the restaurant window must reflect the most recent scored inspection result.
Inspection History
Popeyes Louisiana Chicken at 2779 86th Street has maintained a strong inspection record in recent years, making the April 2026 Grade C a departure from its established pattern. Prior inspections on record include:
- May 5, 2026: Score 13 (Grade A)
- Feb 5, 2025: Score 10 (Grade A)
- May 8, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
- Nov 30, 2023: Score 18
- Aug 4, 2022: Score 5 (Grade A)
Notably, the restaurant's most recent inspection on May 5, 2026 — conducted after the April 2 visit — resulted in a score of 13 and a Grade A, suggesting the issues identified in April were addressed prior to the follow-up inspection. Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that score in the Grade B or C range on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, and the resulting grade is then posted publicly.
The April 2 result represents the inspection period covered by this data release. Consumers visiting the location after May 2026 would see the Grade A earned at the subsequent inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns grades based on the total point score accumulated during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 points or more
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Grades must be posted in a location visible to the public from the street. Restaurants have the option to request a re-inspection before a grade below A is posted, a process that contributes to the pattern seen in this location's inspection history.
Full inspection records for this and other New York City restaurants are available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review complete violation histories and current grade status.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Popeyes Louisiana Chicken including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.