Queens, NY — Tangra Masala, an Asian fusion restaurant located at 87-09 Grand Avenue in Elmhurst, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted August 4, 2026. The establishment received a score of 59 points, placing it in the C grade range, and inspectors cited three critical violations all related to temperature control of potentially hazardous foods.

The closure was ordered after inspectors determined that conditions requiring immediate action were present. DOHMH data reflecting the inspection results was released on August 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

All three violations recorded during the August 4 inspection were classified as critical, meaning they represent conditions with a direct potential to contribute to foodborne illness. Each violation involved the handling and storage of Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods — a category covering perishable items such as meat, poultry, dairy, cooked grains, and other foods that require temperature regulation to prevent bacterial growth.

The first violation, cited under Code 02H, documented that TCS food was not cooled using an approved method after cooking or removal from hot holding. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, cooked food must be brought from 140°F down to 70°F within two hours, and then from 70°F to 41°F or below within four additional hours. Failure to follow this cooling process allows bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Clostridium perfringens to multiply to dangerous levels.

The second violation, Code 05F, noted that the establishment lacked sufficient hot holding, cold storage, or cold holding equipment to maintain TCS foods at required temperatures. Adequate refrigeration and holding equipment is a fundamental requirement under NYC Health Code Article 81.09 and is necessary to keep both hot and cold foods within safe temperature ranges throughout service.

The third violation, Code 02G, documented that cold TCS food items were held above 41°F. This is a direct temperature control failure: refrigerated foods stored above this threshold enter a range where pathogen growth accelerates. The code also covers specific requirements for smoked or processed fish (held at or below 38°F), intact raw eggs (at or below 45°F), and reduced oxygen packaged foods.

Together, the three violations pointed to systemic failures in the restaurant's cold chain management on the date of inspection.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is one of the most consistently enforced areas of the NYC Health Code because of its direct link to foodborne illness outbreaks. NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the city's food safety standards for all food service establishments, drawing heavily from the FDA Food Code, which is updated every four years and serves as the model for most state and local food safety regulations.

The FDA Food Code identifies improper cooling as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness in food service settings. When cooked food is not cooled quickly enough, or when refrigerated food is stored above safe temperatures, bacteria can multiply to levels capable of causing illness even when food is later reheated or consumed cold.

DOHMH inspectors are authorized under the NYC Health Code to order the immediate closure of an establishment when conditions present a significant public health hazard. In this case, violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed on-site before any reopening could be considered.

Inspection History

Tangra Masala's recent inspection record reflects significant variation in performance. Prior to the August 2026 closure, the restaurant had received a Grade A score as recently as January 2025:

  • January 21, 2025: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • September 29, 2024: Score 22 (Grade Pending)
  • February 1, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 13, 2022: Score 43

The June 2022 inspection also resulted in a score above 28 points, placing it in the C range at that time. The restaurant subsequently improved, earning Grade A scores in both 2023 and early 2025. The August 2026 inspection marks a sharp departure from that more recent performance.

It is common for DOHMH to conduct a re-inspection within a short period following a closure or a high score. The outcome of any follow-up inspection will determine the establishment's current operating status and official letter grade.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

The DOHMH letter grade system assigns grades based on the total number of points accumulated during an inspection, with each violation carrying a point value based on its risk level:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or more

A score of 59 points falls well within the C range. When an establishment scores above 13 on an initial inspection, DOHMH typically schedules a re-inspection, at which point the resulting score determines the posted letter grade. Establishments are required to post their grade card in a window visible from the street.

Consumers can look up any NYC restaurant's full inspection history, including violation details and grade history, through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records are updated regularly as new data is processed and released by the agency.

More About This Restaurant

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