Brooklyn, NY — Tulcingo Restaurant, located at 5520 5th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene following an inspection conducted on May 11, 2026. Inspectors documented evidence of rats on the premises, resulting in a score of 56 and an immediate closure order. The inspection data was released by the agency on May 13, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the May 11 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one critical violation at the establishment:

  • Code 04K: Evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas.

This violation is classified as critical under the city's inspection framework, meaning it poses a direct or significant threat to public health. The single violation alone was sufficient to produce a score of 56 — a score that falls well within the range requiring closure action. According to the agency, violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection as a condition of the closure proceeding.

The presence of rodents in a food service environment raises concerns under multiple dimensions of food safety, including contamination of food supplies, food contact surfaces, and structural areas of the facility.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain conditions that prevent pest harborage and infestation. Evidence of rodent activity — whether through droppings, gnaw marks, burrows, or direct observation of live animals — constitutes a critical violation that can trigger immediate closure by the Department of Health.

The FDA Food Code similarly identifies rodent activity as a significant public health hazard, noting that rodents are capable of transmitting pathogens including Salmonella, Leptospira, and Hantavirus through contact with food, surfaces, or packaging.

DOHMH inspectors are authorized to issue a closure order and post a "Closed" notice when conditions present an imminent hazard to public health. For a restaurant to reopen, the operator must correct all cited conditions, request a reinspection, and receive clearance from the department.

Inspection History

Tulcingo Restaurant's prior inspection record shows a consistent pattern of strong performance in recent years, making the May 2026 closure a notable departure from its recent history:

  • May 11, 2026: Score 56, closed by DOHMH — evidence of rats cited
  • Aug 26, 2024: Score 4 (Grade A)
  • Jun 25, 2024: Score 18
  • Apr 4, 2023: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • Feb 24, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • Jan 25, 2022: Score 3 (Grade P — Pending, initial inspection)
  • Jan 13, 2022: Score 28, closed by DOHMH

The restaurant was previously closed in January 2022, also following an inspection that produced a score above the closure threshold. It subsequently recovered, earning Grade A scores across four inspections between early 2022 and mid-2024. The May 2026 closure marks the second time in the establishment's recent record that DOHMH has ordered it shut.

The gap between the restaurant's August 2024 Grade A score of 4 and its May 2026 score of 56 underscores how rapidly conditions can change between inspection cycles.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system converts numerical inspection scores into posted grades visible to the public:

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

A score of 56 places Tulcingo Restaurant well within the C range. Establishments that receive a score above a certain threshold during an initial inspection may be closed immediately if the violations present an imminent hazard — as was the case here with the documented rat activity.

Grades are posted at the entrance of each establishment and are updated following each scored inspection cycle. Restaurants that are closed do not receive a letter grade until they have been reinspected and cleared to reopen.

Resources

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the city's public database. The DOHMH publishes inspection results, scores, violation details, and grade history online. Complaints about food service establishments can be submitted to 311 or through the city's online complaint portal.

More About This Restaurant

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