A

El Pollo III

8603 18 Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214

Latin American Bensonhurst West (718) 331-3124

Grade A · as of Oct 4, 2025

El Pollo III was last inspected on June 15, 2026 and scored 26 points (B range). Inspectors found 5 violations, 3 of them critical.

Latest inspection

June 15, 2026 · Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

26

Score: 26 points (B range)

3 critical2 general

Scored in the B range on an initial inspection, so no grade is given yet. A re-inspection follows.

  • CriticalFood temperature

    Cold food was kept warmer than 41°F, where bacteria can grow.

    Official wording (code 02G)

    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.

  • CriticalFacility

    A hand-washing sink was missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

    Official wording (code 05D)

    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.

  • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

    Workers’ personal hygiene was inadequate (dirty clothing, no hair restraint, jewelry).

    Official wording (code 06A)

    Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn where required. Jewelry worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

    Official wording (code 10F)

    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.

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Fridges or hot-holding units lacked an accurate thermometer.

    Official wording (code 10E)

    Accurate thermometer not provided or properly located in refrigerated, cold storage or hot holding equipment

ABJun 13, 2024: 424224/06Dec 30, 2024: 343424/12Apr 17, 2025: 313125/04Oct 4, 2025: 121225/10Jun 15, 2026: 262626/06
Inspection scores over time. Lower is better: 0–13 is an A, 14–27 a B, 28 or more a C.

Inspection history

7 inspections on record

  1. A 12 points (A range)

    Cycle Inspection · Re-inspection

    2 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      No working thermometer was available to check food temperatures.

      Official wording (code 04J)

      Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Workers’ personal hygiene was inadequate (dirty clothing, no hair restraint, jewelry).

      Official wording (code 06A)

      Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn where required. Jewelry worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing was missing protection against backflow, or floors didn’t drain properly.

      Official wording (code 10B)

      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.

  2. –

    Administrative Miscellaneous · Initial Inspection · No violations were recorded at the time of this inspection

    No violations

  3. 31 31 points (C range)

    Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

    Scored in the C range on an initial inspection, so no grade is given yet. A re-inspection follows.

    2 critical4 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was kept warmer than 41°F, where bacteria can grow.

      Official wording (code 02G)

      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.

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t properly washed and sanitized.

      Official wording (code 06D)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing was missing protection against backflow, or floors didn’t drain properly.

      Official wording (code 10B)

      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.

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

      Official wording (code 10F)

      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.

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food-contact surfaces were in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 09C)

      Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained.

    • GeneralFood handling

      Frozen food was being thawed the wrong way.

      Official wording (code 09B)

      Thawing procedure improper.

  4. C 34 points (C range)

    Cycle Inspection · Re-inspection

    3 critical3 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      No one supervising the kitchen held a Food Protection Certificate.

      Official wording (code 04A)

      Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.

    • CriticalPests

      Mice, or signs of mice, were found.

      Official wording (code 04L)

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

    • CriticalFood source

      Shellfish lacked proper source tags or the tags weren’t kept for 90 days.

      Official wording (code 03B)

      Shellfish not from approved source, not or improperly tagged/labeled; tags not retained for 90 days.

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

      Official wording (code 10F)

      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.

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing was missing protection against backflow, or floors didn’t drain properly.

      Official wording (code 10B)

      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.

    • GeneralPests

      The building wasn’t pest-proofed: gaps, holes, or clutter that let rodents or insects in or give them shelter.

      Official wording (code 08A)

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

  5. 42 42 points (C range)

    Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

    Scored in the C range on an initial inspection, so no grade is given yet. A re-inspection follows.

    2 critical3 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t properly washed and sanitized.

      Official wording (code 06D)

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

    • CriticalPests

      Mice, or signs of mice, were found.

      Official wording (code 04L)

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

    • GeneralPests

      Garbage bins were not pest-proof or not kept covered and clean.

      Official wording (code 08B)

      Garbage receptacle not pest or water resistant, with tight-fitting lids, and covered except while in active use. Garbage receptacle and cover not cleaned after emptying and prior to reuse. Garbage, refuse and other solid and liquid waste not collected, stored, removed and disposed of so as to prevent a nuisance.

    • GeneralPests

      The building wasn’t pest-proofed: gaps, holes, or clutter that let rodents or insects in or give them shelter.

      Official wording (code 08A)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

      Official wording (code 10F)

      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.

  6. –

    Administrative Miscellaneous · Initial Inspection · Violations were cited in the following area(s)

    1 paperwork Show violations
    • PaperworkSigns & paperwork

      Letter grade or Grade Pending card not posted.

      Official wording (code 20-06)

      Current letter grade or Grade Pending card not posted

More in Bensonhurst West

Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 5 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.