Queens, NY — Pot Noodle, an Asian fusion restaurant at 80-00 Cooper Avenue in Glendale, received a Grade B with a score of 22 following a New York City health inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the upper range of the Grade B bracket, just five points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 10, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited Pot Noodle for a single critical violation under code 02B: hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were not being held at or above 140 °F.

TCS foods — which include cooked rice, meats, soups, and sauces commonly served at Asian fusion restaurants — are required to be maintained at 140 °F or higher to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. When these items fall below that threshold, they enter what food safety experts 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.

Although only one violation was documented, the scoring reflects the severity assigned to temperature control failures under the NYC inspection framework.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in the city, and its temperature holding requirements align with the FDA Food Code, which mandates that hot TCS foods be kept at 140 °F or above at all times during service.

Temperature violations are among the most commonly cited critical findings in NYC restaurant inspections because of their direct connection to foodborne illness risk. A score of 22 on a single critical violation indicates that the condition was assessed as a significant departure from required standards, as critical violations carry higher point values in the DOHMH scoring system.

Inspection History

Pot Noodle's prior inspection record shows a pattern of consistent compliance before this most recent result:

  • Oct. 16, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
  • Feb. 22, 2023: Score 12, Grade A
  • July 12, 2022: Score 21, no grade recorded

The restaurant had earned Grade A scores in its two most recent inspections prior to March 2026. Notably, the July 2022 inspection also resulted in a score of 21, suggesting that the restaurant has occasionally operated near the boundary between Grade A and Grade B performance.

The drop from a score of 12 to 22 represents the restaurant's first Grade B designation in its recent recorded history.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during inspections. Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

A score of 22 falls in the upper portion of the Grade B range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B may choose to post the grade or opt for a re-inspection to attempt a better score.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the city's open data portal. The database provides detailed violation descriptions, scores, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Pot Noodle including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.