Queens, NY — Tsaocaa, an Asian/Asian Fusion restaurant located at 42-14 Bell Boulevard in Queens, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted on March 31, 2026. The restaurant scored 26 points — placing it at the upper end of the B range and just two points below the threshold at which a Grade C is issued. The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 3, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two non-critical violations during the March 31 visit. No critical violations were cited.

The first violation, Code 08A, noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This type of violation indicates that structural or environmental conditions existed that could allow pests to shelter or enter the premises. It does not necessarily indicate an active infestation was observed.

The second violation, Code 20-08, recorded a failure to post or conspicuously display healthy eating information as required. This is an administrative requirement under city rules and does not relate to food handling or sanitation practices.

While neither violation is classified as critical, the combined point total of 26 places the restaurant's score near the boundary between Grade B and Grade C under the NYC restaurant grading system.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant grading system is governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, with inspection protocols aligned to the FDA Food Code. Restaurants receive scores based on the severity and number of violations identified during unannounced inspections. Points accumulate per violation, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.

The Code 08A harborage condition violation, while non-critical in this instance, is taken seriously under Article 81 because pest access points can escalate into active infestations if left unaddressed. DOHMH inspectors assess both the presence of pests and the physical conditions that could support them.

Tsaocaa's score of 26 reflects the combined weight of both non-critical violations identified and represents the upper boundary of a passing grade under the current system.

Inspection History

Tsaocaa's prior inspection record shows variability in scores over recent years:

  • April 22, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • January 31, 2024: Score 33
  • September 6, 2022: Score 17

The January 2024 score of 33 would have placed the restaurant in Grade C territory under standard grading, while the April 2024 follow-up resulted in a Grade A. The current score of 26 represents a step back from that Grade A result.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the score a restaurant receives during inspection:

  • A: 0 to 13 points (lowest violation severity)
  • B: 14 to 27 points
  • C: 28 points or more

Restaurants that do not receive an A on their initial inspection are re-inspected. The grade posted in the window reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Consumers can view full inspection records, violation details, and grade history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results portal at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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