Queens, NY — Three Bowls Ramen, a Japanese restaurant located at 63-28 Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, received a score of 33 during a health inspection conducted on February 25, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented two critical violations, including evidence of mice on the premises, marking a significant departure from the restaurant's previously clean inspection record.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 27, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most serious violation cited during the inspection involved evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas (Code 04L). The presence of rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81, as mice can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens that pose a direct risk to consumer health.
Inspectors also cited a second critical violation for wiping cloths not being stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses (Code 06F). Wiping cloths that are not properly stored between uses can become a vehicle for cross-contamination, transferring bacteria between surfaces throughout the kitchen. The FDA Food Code requires that cloths used for wiping food contact surfaces be kept in sanitizing solution at the proper concentration when not in active use.
A non-critical violation was additionally noted for failure to display required signage about plastic straw availability (Code 19-10). While this violation does not carry the same food safety implications as the critical findings, it reflects a lapse in regulatory compliance.
The combined score of 33 places Three Bowls Ramen above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. The action recorded by DOHMH indicated that violations were cited in the noted areas.
Food Safety Context
Rodent activity in food establishments is among the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City and is treated with particular seriousness by DOHMH. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain their premises free of vermin, including mice and rats. Evidence of rodent activity can include droppings, gnaw marks, nesting materials, or sightings of live animals.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, emphasizes that pest management is a fundamental component of food safety operations. Establishments are expected to implement integrated pest management strategies and address any signs of pest activity promptly.
Improper wiping cloth storage, while sometimes overlooked, is a recognized contributor to foodborne illness risk. The FDA Food Code specifies that wiping cloths used on food contact surfaces must be held in a chemical sanitizer solution of appropriate concentration between uses to prevent bacterial growth and cross-contamination.
Inspection History
Three Bowls Ramen had maintained a consistent record of Grade A scores across its three previous inspections:
- 2024-10-23: Score 13 (Grade A)
- 2023-05-01: Score 9 (Grade A)
- 2022-01-18: Score 6 (Grade A)
The February 2026 score of 33 represents a notable increase from the restaurant's most recent prior score of 13 recorded in October 2024. The establishment had not previously received any critical rodent-related violations in its available inspection history.
Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are entitled to request a re-inspection. The grade posted at the establishment may reflect either the initial or re-inspection result, depending on which score is lower.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Critical violations carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations, reflecting their greater potential impact on public health.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including detailed violation descriptions, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database available on the NYC Open Data portal or by searching the establishment on the city's official restaurant grades website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Three Bowls Ramen including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.