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Tropical Jerk

217-95 Hempstead Avenue, Queens, NY 11429
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Jan 12, 2026
55
Score
Medium Risk NYC Grade: Pending

Tropical Jerk appears in inspection records five times, starting in 2023. Tropical Jerk was last inspected on Jan 12, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

The most recent inspection turned up six violations, more than the five found previously.

Food protection certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor comes up most often, recorded four times in the inspection record.

Tropical Jerk's latest score of 55 falls below the Queens average of 75. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.

5
Inspections
3
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 12, 2026
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
3 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
No hand washing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. hand washing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-hand washing purposes. no hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. no soap or acceptable hand-drying device.
05D
Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
04A
Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.
02B
Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained.
09C
Current letter grade or grade pending card not posted
20-06
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
55
Jun 26, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
3 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.
02B
Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
04A
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
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
58
May 22, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
2 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.
02B
Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
04A
Thawing procedure improper.
09B
Accurate thermometer not provided or properly located in refrigerated, cold storage or hot holding equipment
10E
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
64
Feb 16, 2024
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
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
Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
04A
Mechanical or natural ventilation not provided, inadequate, improperly installed, in disrepair or fails to prevent and control excessive build-up of grease, heat, steam condensation, vapors, odors, smoke or fumes.
10D
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
67
Apr 24, 2023
Administrative Miscellaneous / Initial Inspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Current letter grade or grade pending card not posted
20-06
95

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Tropical Jerk last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Tropical Jerk on file is from Jan 12, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Tropical Jerk?

Across the inspection record, food protection certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Tropical Jerk.

How does Tropical Jerk compare to other restaurants in Queens?

Tropical Jerk most recently scored 55 out of 100, which is lower than the Queens average of 75.

Has Tropical Jerk's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Tropical Jerk have flagged more violations than earlier ones, ticking from about five per visit to around six more recently.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Tropical Jerk means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is Tropical Jerk inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Tropical Jerk is inspected around two times per year on average.

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