Brooklyn, NY — Yue Xiang Ju, a Chinese restaurant located at 7617 New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn, received an inspection score of 68 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on June 22, 2026. A score of 68 corresponds to a C grade under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on June 26, 2026.
Inspectors documented two critical violations and two non-critical violations during the visit.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified four violations across food safety and facility conditions.
The first critical violation, cited under Code 06D, found that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities where contamination may have occurred. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food contact surfaces — including cutting boards, prep tables, utensils, and equipment surfaces — must be cleaned and sanitized at defined intervals to prevent cross-contamination and the transfer of pathogens to food.
The second critical violation, cited under Code 04J, found that a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple was not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot and cold holding areas. Accurate temperature measurement is a foundational element of food safety. The FDA Food Code requires that temperature-controlled-for-safety (TCS) foods be monitored during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding to ensure they remain outside the bacterial growth danger zone, generally defined as 41°F to 135°F. The absence of a functioning, accessible thermometer limits a kitchen's ability to verify safe food temperatures.
Two non-critical violations were also recorded. Code 20-06 found that the establishment did not have a current letter grade card or Grade Pending card posted in a location visible to customers, as required by city regulations. Code 08A noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This violation does not indicate an active infestation was observed, but rather that conditions existed that could attract or shelter pests.
Food Safety Context
Critical violations are weighted more heavily in NYC's scoring system because they represent conditions with a direct or significant potential to contribute to foodborne illness. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, inspectors assign point values to each violation based on severity. Critical violations carry higher point values than non-critical violations, and a restaurant's total score determines its letter grade.
The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many of New York City's food safety regulations, identifies improper sanitation of food contact surfaces and inadequate temperature monitoring as significant risk factors for foodborne illness. Pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can survive and multiply on inadequately sanitized surfaces or in foods that are not held at proper temperatures.
Non-critical violations, while less immediately linked to illness, reflect maintenance and operational standards that support overall food safety. Pest harborage conditions, if left unaddressed, can escalate into active infestations that compromise food and surfaces throughout a facility.
Inspection History
Yue Xiang Ju has received multiple inspections in recent years. The restaurant's prior inspection record includes:
- November 6, 2025: Score 28 (Grade C)
- June 11, 2025: Score 37
The June 2026 score of 68 represents a significant increase from the November 2025 score of 28, which was itself on the lower boundary of the C grade range. The June 2025 score of 37 also placed the restaurant in C grade territory at that time. The restaurant has received C-range scores across multiple consecutive inspection cycles.
Under the NYC inspection system, restaurants that score in the C range on an initial inspection are typically given the opportunity to correct violations before a compliance inspection is conducted. The posted grade reflects the score from the most recent graded inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant letter grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns grades based on inspection scores:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or higher
Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are re-inspected, and the resulting score from the compliance inspection determines the posted grade. Restaurants may also request an administrative hearing to contest violations.
All NYC restaurant inspection records are publicly available through the DOHMH online database. Diners can search scores, violation details, and inspection histories for any city restaurant at the NYC Open Data portal or through the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Yue Xiang Ju including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.