Cooked?
El Mero Mero
- gradeGrade A ⏳
- inspection score12 pts
- critical violations1
- last inspectedDecember 19, 2024
- address35-57 38 Street, Queens 11101
- cuisineMexican
- phone7183922444
Is El Mero Mero clean?
El Mero Mero is currently Grade A ⏳ from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), from an inspection on December 19, 2024. Inspectors wrote up 1 critical violation — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads clean 😇. There is a newer inspection the city has not ruled on yet, so the posted grade still stands for now.
What did inspectors find at El Mero Mero?
These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on December 19, 2024, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.
- 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to codeNon-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.
- 🚿plumbing acting upAnti-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.
- 🌡️fridge is giving… room tempcriticalCold 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.
When was El Mero Mero last inspected?
El Mero Mero has 3 inspections on record going back to January 2, 2024, averaging 19 points.
| date | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2026 | no grade issued ⏳ | 23 pts |
| December 19, 2024 | Grade A | 12 pts |
| January 2, 2024 | no grade issued ⏳ | 22 pts |
El Mero Mero vs Astoria
Astoria runs 74% clean across 503 tracked restaurants — 326 clean, 39 mid, 76 cooked.
Against the 503 spots Cooked tracks in Astoria, this one comes out cleaner than 51% of them.
Other spots in Astoria
How New York grades restaurants
New York City health inspectors score violations in points, and lower is better: 0–13 points earns an A, 14–27 a B, and 28 or more a C. Every restaurant is inspected at least once a year, and the letter has to be posted in the window. A restaurant that scores 14 or more on the first inspection of a cycle does not get a letter right away — it stays “Grade Pending” until a re-inspection settles it, which is why some spots here show an hourglass instead of a letter. Cooked only ever shows a letter the city actually posted; we never infer one from a score.
Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) via NYC Open Data. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated December 19, 2024. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.