Bronx, NY — Taqueria El Cebollin, a Spanish restaurant at 587 Southern Boulevard in the Mott Haven neighborhood, received a score of 40 on a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The score represents a significant decline from the restaurant's most recent Grade A rating received in December 2024.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026. Inspectors cited two non-critical violations during the visit. No critical violations were documented. The restaurant remained open, with violations cited in the areas identified during the inspection.

What Inspectors Found

The March 6 inspection identified two non-critical violations at the establishment:

The first violation, cited under Code 10F, documented that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This type of violation relates to the maintenance and condition of equipment and surfaces that do not directly contact food but are part of the food preparation environment.

The second violation, cited under Code 10B, noted that anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, that equipment or floors were not properly drained, or that the sewage disposal system was in disrepair or not functioning properly. The citation also referenced improper disposal of condensation or liquid waste. Drainage and plumbing issues can create conditions that compromise overall sanitation within a food service establishment.

While neither violation was classified as critical, the combined score of 40 points placed the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections to assess compliance with these regulations, which are aligned with principles from the FDA Food Code.

Non-food contact surface maintenance, as cited in the Code 10F violation, is addressed under sanitation requirements that mandate all equipment and surfaces be constructed of durable, easily cleanable materials and maintained in good repair. Proper drainage and back-flow prevention, as cited in the Code 10B violation, are required to prevent contamination of the water supply and to ensure sanitary disposal of wastewater.

The scoring system assigns point values to each violation based on its nature and severity. Higher point totals indicate a greater number or more serious violations documented during the inspection.

Inspection History

Taqueria El Cebollin's recent inspection history shows fluctuating scores:

  • Dec. 11, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • July 8, 2024: Score 103
  • April 24, 2023: Score 27 (Grade B)
  • July 20, 2022: Score 22

The restaurant's most recent prior inspection in December 2024 resulted in a Grade A with a score of 11, indicating the establishment had demonstrated strong compliance at that time. However, the July 2024 inspection recorded a score of 103, suggesting the restaurant has experienced periodic compliance challenges. The current score of 40 falls between these extremes but still represents a notable decline from the December 2024 result.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

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

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

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a month. The restaurant may post the grade card or choose to display a "Grade Pending" sign until the re-inspection is completed. The final grade is determined by the better score between the initial and re-inspection results.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly available database or by visiting the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection scores, grades, and violation details are public record and updated as new data becomes available.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Taqueria El Cebollin including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.