Staten Island, NY — Tokyo Sushi Japanese Restaurant, located at 1710 Victory Boulevard in Staten Island, received a score of 71 during a health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, a significant decline from its Grade A rating received less than a year ago.

Inspectors documented two critical violations and no non-critical violations during the inspection. The action recorded was that violations were cited in the areas identified.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified two critical violations at the Japanese restaurant:

Inspectors documented evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas. The presence of rodent activity in a food service establishment represents a serious food safety concern, as rodents can carry pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and other disease-causing organisms that can contaminate food preparation surfaces and stored ingredients.

Additionally, inspectors cited the restaurant for failure to protect food, supplies, or equipment from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The violation also noted that condiments were not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor. Improper food protection can expose items to environmental contaminants, cross-contamination, and other hazards that compromise food safety.

Despite having only two violations documented, the combined severity resulted in a total score of 71 points, placing the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. Violations are assigned point values based on their severity and the risk they pose to public health. Critical violations, which represent conditions most likely to contribute to foodborne illness, carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.

Evidence of rodent activity is among the most heavily weighted violations in the DOHMH inspection framework. The FDA Food Code emphasizes that food establishments must be maintained free of pests, and that effective pest management programs are essential to safe food handling operations. Rodent activity can indicate broader sanitation concerns, as these pests are attracted to accessible food sources and inadequate waste management.

Food protection violations address the requirement that all food items be shielded from contamination throughout every stage of handling. The FDA Food Code requires that food be protected from cross-contamination by separating raw animal products from ready-to-eat foods, maintaining proper storage protocols, and ensuring that condiment dispensing methods prevent customer-to-customer contamination.

Inspection History

A review of publicly available DOHMH records shows the following inspection history for Tokyo Sushi Japanese Restaurant:

  • August 26, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • January 8, 2024: Score 28
  • July 26, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • February 9, 2022: Score 26 (Grade B)

The restaurant's most recent prior inspection in August 2024 had resulted in a Grade A score of 10, indicating strong compliance at that time. The current score of 71 represents a significant departure from that performance. The establishment's history shows some variability, with scores ranging from a low of 10 to a high of 28 prior to this most recent inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer and less severe violations:

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

A score of 71 falls well into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection. The grade posted in the restaurant's window reflects the best score from either the initial or re-inspection cycle.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The database provides current grades, violation details, and complete inspection histories for all inspected establishments. Residents can also contact 311 to report food safety concerns at any restaurant in the city.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Tokyo Sushi Japanese Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.