Queens, NY — Star Kabab Restaurant, a Bangladeshi eatery located at 168-21 Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on March 31, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 82, placing the establishment in the C range under the city's grading system. The closure came after inspectors cited two critical violations and one non-critical violation, with those requiring immediate action addressed on-site.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 3, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented three violations during the March 31 visit, two of which were classified as critical under NYC Health Code Article 81.
The first critical violation, cited under Code 06A, involved personal cleanliness standards. Inspectors noted that food service workers were not meeting requirements for outer garment cleanliness, effective hair restraint use, and fingernail hygiene. These standards exist to prevent direct physical contamination of food by workers during preparation and service.
The second critical violation, cited under Code 06F, involved the storage and handling of wiping cloths. Inspectors found that wiping cloths were not being stored either clean and dry or in an approved sanitizing solution between uses. Improperly stored wiping cloths can serve as a reservoir for bacteria and cross-contaminate food contact surfaces.
A non-critical violation was also recorded under Code 10B, relating to drainage and liquid waste disposal. Inspectors identified issues with condensation or liquid waste not being properly managed — a condition that can contribute to unsanitary conditions if left unaddressed.
Under DOHMH protocols, violations requiring immediate corrective action must be addressed before a closed establishment can reopen. The restaurant was ordered closed at the time of inspection.
Food Safety Context
The violations cited at Star Kabab Restaurant fall under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food safety standards for food service establishments operating in the five boroughs. Personal cleanliness standards under Code 06A align with requirements outlined in the FDA Food Code, which identifies employee hygiene as a primary control measure against foodborne illness transmission.
The FDA Food Code specifies that food employees must maintain clean outer garments, use effective hair restraints, and keep fingernails trimmed, clean, and free of nail polish when working with exposed food. These measures are designed to minimize the risk of physical and biological contamination during food handling.
Similarly, the sanitizing solution requirements for wiping cloths under Code 06F are intended to ensure that surfaces wiped during service are not recontaminated by cloths harboring pathogens. The FDA Food Code recommends that wiping cloths used on food-contact surfaces be held in a chemical sanitizer solution between uses at an appropriate concentration.
Inspection History
Star Kabab Restaurant has received multiple low scores across recent inspection cycles. The establishment's recorded inspection history shows a consistent pattern of elevated scores:
- August 7, 2023: Score 47
- August 21, 2023: Score 64 — closed by DOHMH
- August 24, 2023: Score 2, Grade C
- January 7, 2025: Score 43
- August 11, 2025: Score 44, Grade Z
- February 3, 2026: Score 48
- March 31, 2026: Score 82 — closed by DOHMH
The restaurant was previously closed during an August 2023 inspection cycle, with a score of 64 recorded on August 21 of that year. A follow-up inspection three days later on August 24, 2023 resulted in a score of just 2, suggesting rapid remediation. Scores returned to elevated levels in subsequent cycles, with the February 2026 inspection recording a 48 before rising to 82 at the most recent visit.
The Grade Z designation recorded in August 2025 is assigned by DOHMH when a restaurant requests a re-inspection before a grade can be officially issued, typically following an initial inspection with a score in the B or C range.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a letter grading system based on the numerical score assigned during each inspection. Scores are calculated by adding the point values of each violation cited. Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations.
- Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher
A score of 82 falls well into Grade C territory. Establishments that are closed by DOHMH must address all violations requiring immediate corrective action and pass a reinspection before being permitted to reopen.
Consumers can look up the current inspection status and grade for any licensed food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection results database at nyc.gov. Inspection records are public information and are updated as new inspections are completed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Star Kabab Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.