El Rincon Boricua

622 Melrose Avenue, Bronx, NY 10455

Mexican / Latin

Last inspected: Jan 2, 2026

Score

Low Risk NYC Grade: A

The health department has logged four inspections at El Rincon Boricua, the earliest from 2024. The most recent visit was on Jan 2, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around six violations to closer to two violations per visit over the last few inspections.

Across the inspection history, “hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded three times.

The city-wide average for Bronx sits at 77, putting El Rincon Boricua on the better side of that line. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Jan 2, 2026

Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.

02B

Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

10F

Oct 28, 2025

Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

6 critical violations. 2 minor violations.

View 8 violations

Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

06C

Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

06D

Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.

02B

Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.

06F

Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.

04L

Cold tcs food item held above 41 °f; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °f; intact raw eggs held above 45 °f; or reduced oxygen packaged (rop) tcs foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.

02G

Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

08A

Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.

10B

Jul 22, 2024

Pre-permit (Operational) / Re-inspection

3 critical violations. 1 minor violation.

View 4 violations

Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.

04A

Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with haccp plan.

04H

Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.

02B

10B

Apr 29, 2024

Pre-permit (Operational) / Initial Inspection

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

02G

Dishwashing and ware washing: cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.

10G

Frequently Asked Questions

When was El Rincon Boricua last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at El Rincon Boricua on file is from Jan 2, 2026. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at El Rincon Boricua?

Across the inspection record, “hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at El Rincon Boricua.

How does El Rincon Boricua compare to other restaurants in Bronx?

El Rincon Boricua most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is higher than the Bronx average of 77.

Has El Rincon Boricua's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at El Rincon Boricua have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly six earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at El Rincon Boricua means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

How often is El Rincon Boricua inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, El Rincon Boricua is inspected around two times per year on average.

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