Queens, NY — Taste Of Canton, a Chinese restaurant located at 61-42 Springfield Boulevard in Queens, received a score of 32 following a health inspection conducted March 16, 2026, placing it in the Grade C category under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 19, 2026.
The inspection resulted in one non-critical violation. No critical violations were cited.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented a single violation under NYC Health Code Code 10B, which covers plumbing and drainage systems. The cited condition involved the absence or inadequacy of anti-siphon or back-flow prevention equipment where required, improper drainage of equipment or flooring, or the improper disposal of condensation or liquid waste.
Back-flow prevention devices are required to protect potable water supplies from contamination caused by reverse flow. Proper drainage is also essential in food service environments to prevent standing water, which can contribute to unsanitary conditions and pest activity. While this violation was classified as non-critical, it contributed enough points to push the restaurant's total score into Grade C territory.
Despite involving only one violation, the score of 32 exceeded the Grade C threshold of 28 points, indicating the violation carried significant weight in the scoring calculation.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program is administered by DOHMH under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for food service establishments. Inspections are unannounced and evaluate a range of conditions including food handling, temperature control, facility maintenance, and equipment compliance.
Violations are classified as critical or non-critical. Critical violations are those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk, such as improper food temperatures or evidence of pests. Non-critical violations, like the one documented at Taste Of Canton, generally relate to facility conditions, equipment, or practices that do not pose an immediate health risk but still fall outside compliance standards.
The FDA Food Code, which informs many local health codes including New York City's, identifies back-flow prevention as a structural safeguard for maintaining safe water systems in commercial kitchens. Failure to maintain these systems can create pathways for contamination under certain conditions.
Inspection History
Taste Of Canton's recent inspection record shows notable variability in scores:
- 2025-11-20: Score 7 (Grade A)
- 2025-09-24: Score 110
- 2023-12-28: Score 9 (Grade A)
- 2023-09-20: Score 46
The November 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 7 — well within Grade A range — making the March 2026 score of 32 a significant shift over a roughly four-month period. The September 2025 score of 110 stands out as an anomaly in the record; scores at that level typically indicate either a re-inspection cycle or a period of significant non-compliance. The restaurant also received a Grade A in December 2023 following a score of 46 in September of that year, suggesting a pattern of improvement following lower-scoring inspections.
Under NYC's inspection cycle, restaurants that receive a score above 13 on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within a set timeframe. A Grade C designation means the restaurant must post the C grade card visibly at the entrance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades based on inspection scores as follows:
- Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points
Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. Grades must be posted publicly and are updated following each inspection cycle. Restaurants scoring above Grade A on an initial inspection receive a re-inspection, at which point they may receive a letter grade or a Grade Pending card while awaiting adjudication.
Inspection records for all NYC restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or neighborhood to view current and historical inspection data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Taste Of Canton including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.