Queens, NY — Sushi Nikko, a Japanese restaurant at 28-17 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, received a score of 23 following a health inspection conducted on March 25, 2026, placing it in the Grade B range and within four points of the Grade C threshold. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on April 8, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two violations during the visit — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 03B, found that shellfish on the premises were either not sourced from an approved supplier, not properly tagged or labeled, or that tags were not retained for the required 90-day period. Proper shellfish tagging is a key traceability measure that allows health authorities to trace product back to its harvest location in the event of a foodborne illness outbreak.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 20-04, noted the absence of required postings: a "Choking First Aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and signage indicating the availability of resuscitation equipment including exhaled air resuscitation masks for adults and pediatric patients, as well as latex gloves. These posting requirements are administrative in nature and do not directly indicate food handling conditions.

Food Safety Context

The shellfish sourcing violation is considered critical under New York City Health Code Article 81 because improperly sourced or untagged shellfish present a direct risk of foodborne illness, including from pathogens such as Vibrio and norovirus. The FDA Food Code requires that shellfish be obtained exclusively from sources listed in the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List and that harvest tags accompany each lot and be retained for 90 days after the container is emptied.

A score of 23 falls in the upper portion of the Grade B range, which spans 14 to 27 points. At this level, the restaurant is four points away from the Grade C threshold. DOHMH scoring assigns points based on the severity and number of violations identified during an unannounced inspection.

Inspection History

Sushi Nikko's prior inspection record had been consistent before this cycle:

  • November 26, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • July 31, 2023: Score 7 (Grade A)

The current score of 23 represents a notable increase from the restaurant's previous Grade A results, though no closure action was taken following the March 2026 inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest violation burden)
  • B: 14–27 points (moderate violation burden)
  • C: 28 or more points (highest violation burden)

Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within 30 to 45 days, at which point they may receive a letter grade or opt to be re-graded at a later Administrative Tribunal hearing.

Current and historical inspection records for all NYC restaurants are available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

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