Manhattan, NY — Tacos Cano, a Mexican restaurant located at 968 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan's Upper West Side neighborhood, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 27, 2026. The establishment received a score of 61, placing it firmly in the C-grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on May 29, 2026.

According to the inspection record, two non-critical violations were documented. Violations requiring immediate corrective action were addressed at the time of inspection, as is standard procedure under a closure order.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified two violations during the May 27 visit, both classified as non-critical under the city's inspection framework.

The first violation, cited under Code 10F, noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were 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. This type of violation typically relates to shelving, storage racks, equipment frames, or similar surfaces that, while not in direct contact with food, can contribute to unsanitary conditions if not maintained properly.

The second violation, cited under Code 08A, recorded that the establishment was not free of harborage conditions or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This violation does not necessarily indicate the presence of live pests at the time of inspection — it encompasses structural gaps, clutter, improper storage, or other environmental conditions that could attract or shelter pests. It is among the more commonly cited violations in NYC restaurant inspections and is taken seriously given the potential public health implications.

No critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program is administered under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the minimum standards for food handling, facility maintenance, and pest control for all food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. The program is designed to protect public health by identifying and correcting conditions that could lead to foodborne illness or unsanitary conditions.

The FDA Food Code, which informs many of the city's inspection standards, similarly emphasizes the importance of maintaining clean equipment surfaces and controlling pests as foundational elements of food safety management.

Under the city's inspection protocol, a DOHMH inspector may issue a closure order when violations are found to pose an immediate risk to public health, or when the cumulative score of violations surpasses a threshold that warrants the action. Violations are assigned point values based on their severity — critical violations carry higher point values than non-critical ones. In this case, the score of 61 was reached through the combination of non-critical violations documented during the inspection.

When an establishment is closed, it may not reopen until a reinspection confirms that the cited conditions have been corrected and the facility meets compliance standards. Violations requiring immediate action are typically addressed on-site before or at the time of the closure order.

Inspection History

According to data available from the DOHMH, no prior inspection history is on record for Tacos Cano at this location. This may indicate that the restaurant is a recently opened establishment, that records for earlier inspections have not yet been published in the current data release cycle, or that the location previously operated under a different name or ownership. The May 27, 2026 inspection represents the available inspection record for this location.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants following each inspection cycle, based on the cumulative score of violations identified. The grading scale is as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates a high level of compliance with food safety standards
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates some violations were found that require correction
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher — indicates a greater number or more significant violations were documented

A score of 61 places Tacos Cano well above the C-grade threshold. Restaurants that receive a B or C score on an initial inspection may request a second inspection before a grade is officially posted. A "Grade Pending" card is typically displayed in the window during this interval.

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 database, available at the city's official open data portal. All inspection records are public and updated regularly as new inspections are conducted and data is processed.

For questions about restaurant inspection results or to report a food safety concern, New York City residents may contact 311 or visit the DOHMH website directly.

More About This Restaurant

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