Manhattan, NY — Taqueria Guadalupe, a Mexican restaurant located at 1743 Lexington Avenue in East Harlem, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted March 23, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 22, placing it in the upper range of the B tier and within six points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 26, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:

  • Code 04A: A Food Protection Certificate (FPC) was not held by a manager or supervisor of food operations.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, at least one manager or supervisor on-site must hold a valid Food Protection Certificate, demonstrating completion of an approved food safety training course. The certificate requirement is designed to ensure that staff responsible for overseeing food handling operations have foundational knowledge of safe food preparation, storage, and sanitation practices. No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is a cornerstone of New York City's food safety framework. NYC Health Code Article 81.13 mandates that a certified food protection manager be present during all hours of operation. The FDA Food Code similarly recommends certified manager oversight as a key control measure for reducing foodborne illness risk.

A score of 22 falls in the upper range of the Grade B band. While a Grade B indicates the restaurant met minimum standards to remain open, a score this close to 28 — the Grade C cutoff — reflects a meaningful accumulation of violation points. A single additional critical violation in a future inspection could push the score into Grade C territory.

Inspection History

Taqueria Guadalupe's inspection record over the past several years shows variability in performance:

  • 2025-01-30: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2024-10-02: Score 28
  • 2023-02-15: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2022-08-23: Score 22

The restaurant has twice previously earned a Grade A with scores of 12, most recently in January 2025. However, it also recorded a score of 28 in October 2024 — a result that sits at the Grade C boundary — and a score of 22 in August 2022, matching the current result. The pattern suggests some inconsistency across inspection cycles.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system is based on the number of points assessed during an inspection. Grades are defined as follows:

  • A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Grades must be posted at the restaurant's entrance in a location visible to the public. Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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